INCREASED free childcare provision at four East Renfrewshire facilities has helped 100 families since it was introduced.

Since August, children meeting set criteria have been able to access more than double the amount of time at a council nursery than was previously available.

Local authorities currently provide 600 free hours a year for all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds. As part of changes being introduced by the Scottish Government, this will increase to 1,140 hours by August 2020.

The council’s phased approach to increasing provision has the aim of meeting the new target prior to the 2020 deadline, as well as immediately providing some children and families with increased free early learning and childcare.

Councillor Paul O’Kane, convener for education and equalities, said: “The council’s expansion plan was thought out carefully. 

“By implementing the expansion in this phased approach, it is clearly already delivering for many families across the area.”

The first phase of the council’s roll-out was to make increased hours available at Arthurlie Family Centre, Isobel Mair Family Centre for those with additional support needs, Braidbar Nursery Class and Busby Nursery Class.

Until the council’s expansion plan is fully implemented, access to these places is limited, and so criteria are in place to identify children who are eligible to benefit. 

As the council moves to the next stage of the expansion plan, it is planned to introduce partnerships with childminders from August 2019, offering parents the opportunity to access their free entitlement in a more flexible way.

The council is in partnership with 13 early learning and childcare providers, and work is ongoing to increase the number of funded partners available, which includes childminders and private and voluntary nurseries. 

The final phase of the plan will be the creation of five new nurseries by August 2020.

A £23million investment is being made by the council to build a centre within Overlee Park, one which will also replace the outdated Crookfur Pavilion, a replacement for Glenwood Family Centre on an adjacent site, and two new centres within the grounds of Busby and Eaglesham primaries.

Other nurseries will be developed as part of the expansion.