Concerns Highland Council will be unable to provide extra childcare hours

Increased free childcare and early education hours will be introduced in some nurseries this summer but there are fears Highland Council is falling behind in the roll out.

The 1140 free hours per year, announced by the Scottish Government last year, will be available to all children aged three and four, as well as eligible two year olds.

It is an increase of the 600 hours introduced in 2014 and they are not due to be available until 2020 but Highland Council is working to make the extra provision in some areas from August.

The council’s director of care and learning, Bill Alexander, warned there is a huge amount of work to be done to provide the extra hours, including building new nurseries and training more than 300 additional staff, but has earmarked nine places which already have the capacity needed.

The nine hoped to provide the service from August are Merkinch nurseries and family centre, Kyle nursery, Lochaber Gaelic nursery, Obsdale Primary in Alness, Invergordon’s Park and South Lodge, and Norlin in Wick.

This was reduced from the original ambition of 44, due to a lack of funding, leading to concerns that the council will not be ready for the full roll out in 2020.

The extra free hours which will be available early will be given first to the children who would benefit most, such as those living in deprived and very rural areas.

It is not yet known how much money the Scottish Government will provide to fund the proposals but at the care, learning and housing committee on Thursday , Mr Alexander said it is unlikely to cover the whole £24.8 million cost to the council.

This sparked anger from Inverness Central councillor Bet McAllister, who cast doubt over whether the local authority will be prepared for 2020.

She said: "There is no way we will do this on time unless we get a heck of a lot more funding.

"It’s a great idea because we are trying to make it easier for women to go back to work and working parents need somewhere for their children to go but the children will be at secondary school by the time we have got this sorted out."

This was also questioned by deputy council leader Alasdair Christie and Mr Alexander admitted he cannot make any guarantees at this stage.

"We are using every available space in the Highlands," said Mr Alexander.

"We are not where we wanted to be at this stage but we have a rational staged approach. If we can bring in more staff it will be an easier acceleration.

"Can I say we will definitely get there by 2020? I can’t guarantee that today.

"What I can say is we are working as hard as we can.

"We are working hand in glove with the Scottish Government and we just have to stick at this."

He also warned that there is no certainty that the nine earmarked centres will definitely go ahead this year, adding: "This is not set in concrete, it is all still very fluid [but] these are our estimations."

The increase will give parents around 30 hours of free child care per week, compared to the current 16.

As well as three and four year olds, it will also be available to two year olds if parents are on benefits, to help the child learn and mix with others of a similar age.

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