s The Flexible delivery of 600hrs of Early Learning and Child Care

Services offered at Fort Early Years Centre Under twos service 9am and 9pm placements. Offered all year round no wrap around available 2.5hrs 9.15am or pm 2-3yrs 30 am and 30 pm placements 3.10 hrs x 5, 8.30 – or pm, Term time (unless Child Protection or Childs Plan suggests additional service required, or parents are purchasing additional hours) 30 places -10 Eligible two placements : 15 Referred placements, 5 Affordable placement (am &pm) 3-5yrs 58 am and 58 pm placements 3.10 hrs x 5 same hours as the 2-3yrs. Term time (unless as above) After School/Holiday Provision 5-11 yrs Delivered by North Edin. C.C.

Affordable/Wrap Around Service We have offered this service since January Service is offered to enable families who are in work, training or education. 2-3yrs We offer five placements each session Hours available are from 8am to 5.30pm dependant on need. Parents have to purchase at least two sessions, and pay for full session(not hourly) at cost of £4.20 an hour. Families already receiving free 600hrs ( Eligible two’s) can purchase hours in addition.

3-5 YEARS WRAP AROUND SERVICE We originally had 16 full time placements available. At that time we had a 46/46 Pre School Room. In August of this year due to demand on placements we increased the Service to offer 58/58 Pre School Service and reduced full time placements to 8 full time placements. Service is available from 8am-5.30pm Full year round. We continue to monitor numbers and will be able to respond to need if demands change.

Flexible Delivery of 600hrs This year I was asked to join a Working Group set up to explore how we could best deliver 600hrs of ELCC to families in a flexible way. After a lot of discussion and debate we have developed a protocol for the flexible delivery of 600hrs. In August we offered all the parents purchasing additional hours the following three options for their 600hr entitlement. 3.10hrs x 5 days, 4hrs x 4 days, 8 hrs x 2 days. To date all but two have remained with the five days option, two families have now have the 4x4 option which saves them money. Demand :-Currently we have six 2-3yr old children and Twelve 3-5yr old children in extended hours placements.

Challenges/Solutions Practical Organisation :- Staff Rotas to meet service delivery needs, extended hours, Lunch provision, Provision of quiet time/sleep option for children if required. Rotas set up all staff included. Quiet area set up, Parents provide Packed lunches Paperwork:- Developing and Implementing, Contracts, Invoices, Banking Systems, Recovery of unpaid monies. Consulted with other Centres, Steven Melville* Trial and Error, Short life working group developing this, Secondment opportunity to support this. Adapting and Changing systems whilst ensuring continuity of service for children and families. Consulting Parents, Keeping staff, families and Managers informed of changes Supporting Families just returning to work, education or training to manage the change and support any financial issues. Time set aside, sign posting to other services to support them to manage change, financial/benefit support Struggle Personally between Supportive Model/Business Model Discussion and Reflection and Evaluation Initially no unified Departmental systems, procedures or paperwork in place. The Working Group has identified issues and are working towards the introduction of a new protocol. Wide range of differing requests for flexibility. Acknowledgement that we cannot cover all options

Benefits Being able to support Parents to return to work, education or training in the knowledge that their children are safe and happy in an establishment they are very often familiar with. Centre offers wide range of services to meet the differing needs of the community. Children don’t have to have multiple care arrangements. Flexible Service reduces some financial stress for families. Joint work with afterschool club enables parents to have parent/carers collected from one setting.. Enables us to meet the Agenda set by the Scottish Government.

Finally THE GOOD NEWS We have spent a long time trouble shooting and problem solving. We have developed a protocol now to cover all the issues that have arisen for those in the pilot. When the times comes for this to be rolled out further around the city there should be a clear city wide system in place to ensure continuity and transparency of delivery of Edinburgh Flexible Early Learning and Childcare Service. The pilot settings will be on hand to support new colleagues with issues arising.