RSS Press releases
We publish all of our recent press releases online so you can keep up to date.
You can use special RSS software (or newer web browsers) to subscribe to an RSS feed of our recent press releases . Email pressenquiry@dumgal.gov.uk if you'd like further details on any of our press releases.
If you want to speak to a communications officer, you can find their working-hours telephone numbers and what areas of the council they cover at www.dumgal.gov.uk/pressenquiry.
Read our press releases as HTML >>
Recent releases
Last Updated: 22/11/2024 10:34:41
cv19: Council delivers ELC during Covid-19 emergency
Thursday, 11 June 2020 11:32
The Council’s Covid-19 sub-committee [12.06.20] will consider a report updating elected members on the impact of the Scottish Government revoking the Council’s statutory duty to provide 1,140 hours of Early Learning and Childcare [ELC] from August 2020. This is due to the impact of the Covid-19 emergency.
The committee will be asked to:
Note the impact of the revocation order on the Delivery Plan for the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Dumfries and Galloway;
Agree that Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Plan 2017-2020 is progressed, subject to building works in schools;
Agree to revisit the allocation of places in response to national guidance on social distancing and taking account of any subsequent reduction in the capacity of funded providers;
On 1 April 2020, the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Modification) (No. 2) Revocation Order 2020 was approved by the Scottish Parliament. The Order revokes the change to the 2014 Children and Young People’s Act that required education authorities to secure 1,140 hours of ELC provision for all eligible children from August 2020, an increase from 600 hours. The Act means that there will now be no statutory duty to provide 1,140 hours from August.
In a letter to Directors of Education on 30 March 2020, the Scottish Government stated that its commitment to ensuring that the expansion will still be delivered in full but offered local authorities the discretion to rephase expansion.
The Scottish Government continues to recognise that expanding hours will give children greater access to all of the benefits that the early learning and childcare sector in Scotland will deliver and will work to do this as soon as is practical.
Council Leader Elaine Murray said: “Our Council was on track to fulfil the statutory duty to deliver 1,140 hours of Early Learning and Childcare from August 2020. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 emergency means that this isn’t now practicable. Due to the pandemic and resulting lockdown, Council officers are now working with headteachers and nursery managers to allocate places in school nurseries, taking into account Scottish Government guidance and the need to achieve social distancing.”
Depute Leader Rob Davidson said: “Council officers have carried out a regionwide mapping exercise of existing childcare capacity, including local authority nurseries, private and voluntary providers, and childminders. We will able to provide places to all families within their cluster area when we can return to ‘normal’ and planned building works are completed. However, during the current situation, it won’t be possible for all families to be able to access their first choice of childcare and it will be necessary for us to offer an alternative.”
It is expected that the Scottish Government and Public Health will issue further guidance on social distancing during the recovery process, which may impact the numbers of children attending a service at any one time. This will impact the delivery of the full number of 1,140 hours being offered across the region due to the potential need to limit the numbers of children being able to access services at any one time. Plans will respond and adapt to further guidance once this has been received.
Following completion of the allocation process, parents will be informed by letter of their child’s place and the hours that their child can access, which will continue to depend on national guidance on social distancing to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children. This may mean that access to the full 1,140 hours won’t be available until normal circumstances resume. However, the Council will make every effort to provide as many hours to children as possible during the recovery period.
ENDS
The committee will be asked to:
Note the impact of the revocation order on the Delivery Plan for the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Dumfries and Galloway;
Agree that Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Plan 2017-2020 is progressed, subject to building works in schools;
Agree to revisit the allocation of places in response to national guidance on social distancing and taking account of any subsequent reduction in the capacity of funded providers;
On 1 April 2020, the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Modification) (No. 2) Revocation Order 2020 was approved by the Scottish Parliament. The Order revokes the change to the 2014 Children and Young People’s Act that required education authorities to secure 1,140 hours of ELC provision for all eligible children from August 2020, an increase from 600 hours. The Act means that there will now be no statutory duty to provide 1,140 hours from August.
In a letter to Directors of Education on 30 March 2020, the Scottish Government stated that its commitment to ensuring that the expansion will still be delivered in full but offered local authorities the discretion to rephase expansion.
The Scottish Government continues to recognise that expanding hours will give children greater access to all of the benefits that the early learning and childcare sector in Scotland will deliver and will work to do this as soon as is practical.
Council Leader Elaine Murray said: “Our Council was on track to fulfil the statutory duty to deliver 1,140 hours of Early Learning and Childcare from August 2020. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 emergency means that this isn’t now practicable. Due to the pandemic and resulting lockdown, Council officers are now working with headteachers and nursery managers to allocate places in school nurseries, taking into account Scottish Government guidance and the need to achieve social distancing.”
Depute Leader Rob Davidson said: “Council officers have carried out a regionwide mapping exercise of existing childcare capacity, including local authority nurseries, private and voluntary providers, and childminders. We will able to provide places to all families within their cluster area when we can return to ‘normal’ and planned building works are completed. However, during the current situation, it won’t be possible for all families to be able to access their first choice of childcare and it will be necessary for us to offer an alternative.”
It is expected that the Scottish Government and Public Health will issue further guidance on social distancing during the recovery process, which may impact the numbers of children attending a service at any one time. This will impact the delivery of the full number of 1,140 hours being offered across the region due to the potential need to limit the numbers of children being able to access services at any one time. Plans will respond and adapt to further guidance once this has been received.
Following completion of the allocation process, parents will be informed by letter of their child’s place and the hours that their child can access, which will continue to depend on national guidance on social distancing to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children. This may mean that access to the full 1,140 hours won’t be available until normal circumstances resume. However, the Council will make every effort to provide as many hours to children as possible during the recovery period.
ENDS
Page last updated: 20/05/2022
