Plans to almost double hours of funded early learning and childcare in Renfrewshire by 2020 could be “untenable”, a councillor has warned.


The Scottish Government will increase parents’ entitlement from 600 hours per year to 1140 hours for children aged three and four, and eligible two-year-olds.


However, Labour Councillor Derek Bibby claimed there are serious question marks over whether the local authority can achieve the increased allocation within two years.

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To carry out the expansion, Renfrewshire will require the construction of five new childcare centres, one major refurbishment, 12 minor adaptations, nine extensions and three outdoor projects.


More early years staff and managers will also be needed to deliver the 1140 hours.

However, a report on the expansion plan, revealed the “significant risk” that these factors will not be “deliverable”.


It read: “There is a significant risk, given the expansion across the Scotland, that the infrastructure programme will not be deliverable.


“There will be a demand on the construction issue which could result in insufficient providers being available to build and deliver the adaptations required.


“There is a significant risk that, given the scale of expansion across Scotland, children’s services will be unable to recruit sufficient staff to deliver the expansion of funded early learning and childcare.”


At the council’s education and children services policy board on Thursday, John Trainer, head of early years and inclusion, reassured councillors that staff working on the expansion were committed to “ensuring that this is a high quality service”.


He also revealed the council was well aware of the risks outlined in the report.

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Mr Trainer said: “We want to make sure that parents get the right service at the right time.


“We have been upfront about the availability of the workforce and construction to build new centres. We have been realistic and will continue to monitor that.”


Councillor Bibby expressed a need to inform parents that it will not be a straightforward project.


He said: “It took 11 years for the Scottish Government to get 600 hours. It’s highly ambitious and unlikely that, within the two years, there will be 1140.


“There will be parents making plans based on the 1140 hours as a guarantee but there are no guarantees in this report.”

The Gazette:

Jim Paterson said he would take the comments on board 


Councillor Jim Paterson, convener of the board, said: “I take on board your comments and accept that this is a challenging timescale.


“There will be a supply and demand issue in terms of construction in the West of Scotland.”