SCMA is aware of growing concerns amongst members, childminders and other organisations regarding proposals by West Lothian Council regarding funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC).
Recent public consultation, undertaken by West Lothian Council, could fundamentally change how parents can receive their statutory entitlement of 1140 hours of funded ELC and remove their choice over childcare. In addition, these changes could potentially render a number of private childminders and nurseries in West Lothian unsustainable.
While recognising the financial pressures being experienced by West Lothian Council, SCMA shares these concerns, as we believe these proposals will have adverse implications for childminders in West Lothian, as well as children, women, working parents and carers, and the wider community.
The proposal involves removing funding support for non-West Lothian children at private partner provider ELC settings (cross-boundary placements) and placing all of these children in West Lothian’s own local authority nurseries on a ‘like for like’ basis to reduce the financial pressures experienced by the Council.
We are getting in touch with all SCMA members in West Lothian Council today (20 February) to notify them of this situation and to advise you that SCMA has written formally to West Lothian Council to express our deep concern about these proposals.
Read SCMA’s Open Letter to West Lothian Council in full.