Early learning and childcare across the city received another boost this week when Councillors at the City Administration Committee agreed a flexible rental policy that will see private, social enterprise or third sector nursery providers benefit from the national expansion plans for families.
Glasgow is on track to deliver the national 1140 hours fully funded expansion plans for families by August 2020.
This will see families with eligible 3 and 4 year olds across the city offered the opportunity to benefit from almost double the number of funded hours currently available nationally.
As part of our expansion plans, Glasgow families with an household income of £45,000 or less will be able to access 900 hours in our nurseries and partner providers from the new term this August with some families already accessing 1140 hours in Council nurseries.
The new, bespoke rental policy will also allow for greater flexibility for parents and carers as part of the Council’s expansion plans as providers are given opportunities in council buildings across the city.
A capital investment of £44.1million was announced in February this year to build or refurbished eight additional early learning and childcare facilities across the city.
The flexible rental policy is seen as an incentive to our partners to operate in areas of the city that might not otherwise be financially viable.
Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills & Early Years said: “As we roll out and plan for the national expansion plans for early years and childcare and the increase of funded hours from 600 – 1140 hours for our families, we’ve looked at a number of ways in which we can work with our partner providers and stakeholders to maximise benefits across the sector.
“The commissioning paper agreed at City Administration Committee today is proof of our commitment.
“This is a really exciting time for early learning and childcare in the city and I’m delighted that we are able to offer additional benefits to our funded providers and the third sectors as part of the expansion plans and give them financial reassurance of our continued support.”
