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Moray childcare hours expansion is 'wonderful investment in children'


By Alan Beresford

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NURSERY-age children across Moray will now be eligible for increased childcare hours thanks to a new Scotland-wide scheme.

Moray Council education committee chairwoman Councillor Sonya Warren: ELC expansion is a "wonderful investment in children". Picture: Daniel Forsyth
Moray Council education committee chairwoman Councillor Sonya Warren: ELC expansion is a "wonderful investment in children". Picture: Daniel Forsyth

As part of the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) by the Scottish Government all three and four-year-olds, plus eligible two-year-olds, will be entitled to 1140 hours of childcare a year.

The news was welcomed by the chairwoman of Moray Council’s children and young people’s services committee Councillor Sonya Warren (Buckie, SNP).

“It’s fantastic to be able to have this increased offer the 1140 hours to children across Moray,” she said.

“This is a wonderful investment in our children, and will be a great benefit to them as they progress into primary. All children deserve the very best start in life with high quality learning and teaching.

“It’s been a huge undertaking, but very worthwhile.

“Staff have worked incredibly hard to delivery this commitment across Moray. Its fantastic to be able to see nursery education still offered over the summer holidays too, this offers far more flexibility to working parents.”

The rollout of the scheme was originally intended for August last year but was paused due to the Covid pandemic.

The main aims behind the ELC expansion are to improve children’s outcomes and help close the poverty-related attainment gap, increase family resilience through improved health and wellbeing of children and parents, and support parents into work, study or training.

Parents can find more information at www.parentclub.scot



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