New Investment in Highland Playgroups
The Highland Council has agreed an increase in funding to independent sector play groups across the authority as part of an action plan to ensure continued support for the sector from the Council.
This increase in rates will enable improvements in pay and conditions of service for the 400+ frontline playstaff working in Highland. It will mean that the rate for a playworker increases to £7 an hour, and for a senior playworker to £8 an hour.
The increase was announced by Bill Alexander, Head of Children’s Services, at the 25th Annual General Meeting of the Care and Learning Alliance, (CALA) the umbrella organisation for community based early years and childcare providers in the Highlands. Mr Alexander praised the commitment and hard work of the independent sector, and acknowledged their role as an important key partner in the future delivery of integrated childcare and early education services across Highland.
The 100 attendees at the conference welcomed this increased investment. They recognised that it will help address the challenges they face in the recruitment and retention of playworkers and senior playworkers.
Ann Brady, Chief Executive of CALA, welcomed the news on behalf of the voluntary sector: “The voluntary sector has been a consistent partner within the Highland Council’s plans and their service delivery, in meeting early education targets. This announcement sends a message of value and commitment from the Highland Council to voluntary sector staff. Perhaps of even more importance is the commitment from The Highland Council to continue to monitor and review the investment in the sector on an ongoing basis. Our conference “Getting it Right …Together,” couldn’t have had a more appropriate title.”
Councillor Liz MacDonald, Co-chair of Highland’s Joint Committee on Children & Young People, said: “We are committed to working in partnership with voluntary and private providers to deliver early education services to communities. We greatly value the contribution of staff who work in playgroups across the Highlands. As we move forward, to ensure that children and families have modern facilities including wraparound care, it is important that we have a strong voluntary and private sector.”