- New National Charter sets out what children want from
school-age childcare services
Kindness, community, fun and fairness are the priorities children
in Scotland have identified for a future funded school-age
childcare offer, according to the new Children’s Charter launched
today.
As part of the Children’s Charter – which will be used to
co-design a system of school-age childcare – young people also
shared their views on why childcare is needed, how it is funded,
the people who should run it and the sorts of activities it
should include.
Around 125 children from primary schools across Scotland created
five local Charters for the best out of school care for their
community. The groups of children later went on to collaborate on
a National Charter, which will guide a future nationwide system
of school-age childcare.
Children’s Minister met with some of the
participants to the Charter during its formal launch at St
Mungo’s School in Alloa.
Ms Don said:
“Developing a system of school-age childcare is a key priority
for the Scottish Government. Giving children the opportunity to
get involved at the heart of policy making ensures that we design
services that better meet their needs in the future.
“As we publish the Charter during Challenge Poverty Week, all of
the children that took part share our ambition to put fairness at
the forefront in a future childcare system. Not only will it
reduce barriers for children to access a wide range of activities
and support, it will also allow parents and carers to enter or
sustain employment or increase their hours at work.
“I am grateful to all of the children who participated so
meaningfully in this important exercise. Their input is a vital
part of our Delivery Framework, which I am also pleased to be
publishing today. The Framework sets out our key action areas for
building a new system of school-age childcare and how we will
continue to involve children, parents, providers and communities
in delivering this.”
Irene Audain MBE, Chief Executive at Scottish Out of School Care
Network said:
“I welcome the launch today of the Children’s Charter for
School-Age Childcare and the School-Age Childcare Delivery
Framework.
“I firmly agree with the children’s priorities of Kindness,
Fairness, Choice, Happiness, and Fun, in their ideal services,
rooted in local communities where everyone is respected and looks
out for each other, as this too is our ideal good quality
service."
Currently, all three and four-year-olds and eligible
two-year-olds are able to take up 1,140 hours of funded early
learning and childcare in Scotland. Work is underway with local
authorities and other partners to phase in an expanded national
offer for families with two-year-olds, as well as targeted early
delivery of all age childcare for low income
families.
Background:
School age childcare:
national children's charter - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
The School-Age Childcare
Delivery Framework sets out the Scottish Government’s
ambition for a new system of school-age childcare and provides
information about our key action areas and our transformational
approach to service design with children, parents and
communities.
