Hourly rates of pay for early learning and childcare (ELC) providers in West Dunbartonshire have increased in a bid to provide 1140 hours of free daycare.
During a recent education committee, members agreed that ELC private providers including childminders would receive £5.67 an hour, an increase from £5.31.
Up to 25% of children in West Dunbartonshire attend the council’s childcare partner providers for their 1140 hours of funded ELC which is available to all three and four year-olds as well as eligible two year-olds.
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The monetary increase will be funded by the local authority and will not affect the amount paid by parents and carers who use these providers and will be paid to the provider for each child.
Over the last five years, the hourly rate paid by West Dunbartonshire to funded private ELC providers have increased from £3.68 per hour in 2017-18 to £5.31 per hour in 2021-22.
The hourly rate for eligible two-year-olds was also increased for the very small number of children - just under 50 - from April 2022 to £5.84.
During the meeting, Kathy Morrison, senior education officer, education, learning and attainment, said: “This is a proposal to increase the hourly rate for the main pay for three and four year-olds who are partner providers.
“We have continued to pay £5.31 for a number of years, as many local authorities have done. We are expected to uplift the cost of 2022/23 to ensure they reflect the cost of delivery including inflation.
“We will continue to deliver our commitment to the real living wage. This captures the increase in the Scottish Living Wage since 2021.”
Following the update, members agreed to the proposals unanimously.
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