North Ayrshire Council has confirmed plans to increase the financial payments they give Early Years Centres and childminders across the area.
The local authority has contracts with 16 funded provider nurseries and 58 childminders to deliver early learning and childcare entitlement to families across the authority.
Since 2018, the hourly rate paid to funded providers, including childminders, has been £5.31.
However, after a meeting of Cabinet on Tuesday (May 2), Councillors approved plans to increase that to £5.76.
They also agreed that this rate should be paid retrospectively from August 1, 2022, and to be in place until March 31, 2024.
Councillor Shaun Macaulay, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “A huge thanks to all our establishments and childminders for the support they provide young people and their families and carers.
“The funded providers are very important partners in their delivery of high quality, flexible childcare for children and families. We have consulted with both funded provider nursery owners and managers and childminders throughout the 1140 hours Expansion programme. We’ve also carried out data analysis to help us establish a fair and reflective hourly rate for them.
“The proposed hourly rate of £5.76 will help us provide high quality ELC learning and childcare for all children in North Ayrshire, regardless of provider.”
There will be a further review of the hourly rate in April 2024.
Non-financial assistance is also provided by North Ayrshire Council staff to funded providers in the form of teacher support, professional learning for staff and managers and quality improvement support.
In addition and following the introduction of free meals and snacks as part of the 1140 expansion programme, funded providers receive a payment of £3 per meal, £2.50 for childminders and 58.2p per snack provided.
In some cases, funded providers have opted for the council to provide meals through the school meals service.
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