A CONSULTATION is being launched by South Ayrshire Council for plans to double the amount of free early learning and childcare across South Ayrshire.

The proposals are being put forward to parents and carers in the area in a consultation that is in response to a Scottish Government policy to raise early learning and childcare entitlement from 600 hours to 1140 hours a year by 2020 for eligible two year olds, and for all three and four year olds.

The overall plans are to improve outcomes for children, maintain high quality early learning and childcare provision, and to provide more flexibility for parents who would like to work, train or study.

To help the current system to adapt in South Ayrshire, a planning exercise is already underway.

Councillor William Grant, South Ayrshire Council’s portfolio holder for lifelong learning, said: "South Ayrshire Council is committed to providing high quality early learning and childcare and this new entitlement will make a real difference to parents and carers.

“To help us to plan for this major change we’re asking you to share your thoughts about how we can design the new system to best meet the needs of our communities.

“We expect provision and times will vary across centres and local communities, and the more people we hear from will make it easier to plan for demand as we approach the 2020 deadline to introduce this vastly enhanced service.”

Early learning and childcare will only be made available from a registered provider that meets the new Quality Standards.

This may be provided either through a local authority early years centre, private nursery, playgroup, and/or a child minder.

The consultation will run between Monday, June 12 and Monday, June 26 and the outcome of the consultation will be used to plan for the future expansion of early learning and childcare across South Ayrshire.

For more information or to request the survey on the consultation, contact South Ayrshire Council on 0300 123 0900 and ask for details on the Early Years consultation.