Families in Argyll and Bute will benefit from increased provision in the number of hours of pre-school provision provided by the council, which from August 2014 will go up from 475 hours to 600 hours annually, and will include two- and three-year-old children.

Argyll and Bute Council is investing £1.345m during 2014/15 to provide this increased service.

This increased flexibility and choice for parents follows extensive consultation with families, care providers and council staff who provide the service.

This free early learning and childcare will be extended further to include children aged two who are, or have been, looked after by the council, and for households where no-one is working.

From August 2015, free pre-school provision will be further extended to include two-year-old children who are eligible to receive free school meals.

Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Children and Families, Councillor Mary Jean Devon, said, “We are working to provide every child in Argyll and Bute with the very best possible start in life and to allow their parents and families the flexibility to provide pre-school and early learning as successfully as possible. We have listened to what parents want, and taken into consideration the views of providers.

“Consultation has shown that for busy parents the benefits are obvious; the difference is simply that during term time, free childcare and pre-school provision will be increased from twelve and a half hours to over fifteen hours a week – with each session being increased by forty minutes.

“There are further far-reaching benefits, however, in that increased provision may lead to increased employment both within the private sector and the council itself in order to cover the flexibility.”

The council is making these changes in line with the Children and Young People Bill which was published in April 2013, and which seeks to improve the way services work to support children, young people and families.