Falkirk Council under fire for lack of info on early years changes

The petition organiser, mum-of-two Jodie Barron, has now written to the director of Falkirk Council’s Children’s Services asking for more details about the decision to delay the policy even when the schools are back to normal.

In the letter, Jodie told Robert Naylor that “fundamental and life changing information regarding early years learning in Falkirk has been completely inadequate and shambolic”.

“Concern for children’s education and parents’ ability to go back to work mean tensions are heightened and poor communication has only made an already difficult situation even worse.”

The flagship Scottish Government policy – a massive expansion in early years education that will almost double the hours of nursery time children get – was supposed to have begun in earnest in August.

That was put on hold when the pandemic struck and construction work could no longer go ahead.

But a now-deleted Tweet from the council’s early years service seemed to reveal that the plans are on hold indefinitely, even once the Covid-19 pandemic is deemed to be over.

The letter to Mr Naylor, which was sent on Tuesday, said the council’s website still “lacks update information and fails to provide the level of clarity parents desperately require”. 

Jodie also wants to know why nurseries including Stenhousemuir, her sons’ local school, who have already been offering 1140 hours will no longer be able to do so.

She said: “A postcode lottery has been created with the parents of Falkirk being significantly disadvantaged over their counterparts in Stirling and Fife (to name but a few) as a result of the decision and inaction being taken by Falkirk Council.”

Labour councillor Joan Coombes said she had been contacted by many concerned parents and she criticised the SNP government for not making the situation clearer.

She said: “Obviously the Covid 19 crisis took precedence and rightly so. However, parents and council staff are waiting on the Scottish Government to give guidance on where we go from here.

“Council officers have apologised for the way the message was shared on social media last week and I appreciate that they are doing their best to handle a difficult situation which is not of their making.

“I also understand the frustration of the parents who found out important information in less than satisfactory manner and therefore the SNP administration must share some of the responsibility for this fiasco.”

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, leader of Falkirk Council, stressed that the policy has not been cancelled but delays were unavoidable.

She said: “As a result of the impact of the pandemic our new-build early years projects have been delayed, with construction having been halted due to Covid19  restrictions. However, as soon as start-up is allowed the programme will be re-established.

“There are a number of other alterations to buildings and outdoor spaces that will require the facility to be empty to be carried out – those will now have to be delayed until next Easter and summer holidays. As a result it may take until summer of 2021 before we will be able to deliver 1140 to all.

“In the meantime, we have been directed by Scottish Government we need to provide equity of access, hence the changes in the number of hours provided to ensure all parents have access to early years.

“We thank parents for their understanding. Staff are currently working on an individual basis with parents.”