Aberdeenshire Council is increasing the number of funded Early Learning and Childcare hours.

The council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee heard today that from next month all funded provider settings working partnership with the council will be able to offer up to 540 hours more than the Scottish Government’s current statutory entitlement of 600 hours.

This will see the figure increase to 1140 hours, the total that the Scottish Government requested all local authorities to meet in the first instance.

Council-run settings will move to increase to 1140 hours in proposed phases:
• 20% offering 1140 hours in full, by December.
• Between November and February, 30% will offer 1140 hours in full with the remaining 70% offering 900 hours.
• From February to April, 50% of settings will offer 1140 hours in full with the other half offering 900 hours.
• From April to August the majority of settings will offer 1140 hours but there may be exceptional cases meaning some may need time to adjust up to August.

Parents and carers can split their 1140 funded hours between a council-run nursery or a private provider setting.

Nurseries will be writing to parents and car shortly to explain the arrangements in full. Any questions can be emailed to elcadmissions@aberdeenshire.gov.uk