Moray MP concerned childcare payment changes could close playgroups

Moray MP concerned childcare payment changes could close playgroups

 Moray MP Douglas Ross has voiced his concerns after it emerged that Moray playgroups were given just a week’s notice by Moray Council about changes to their payment schedules happening in the new term.

Commenting Douglas said: “I was contacted this week by the manager of a local playgroup who is extremely concerned that the group may not be able to re-open for the autumn term because there will be no money in the bank and they will not be able to meet overheads or pay wages.”

He added: “To make matters worse, the group has been put into panic mode after finding out by email in the final week of term about these changes to the way funded places are paid for, which will see payments being delayed until the end of September, rather than be paid as normal in August, which could be disastrous for them.

“Not having any funding to operate for the first seven weeks of term, could lead to closure of some of the smaller playgroups and I understand there are several in this position.”

“It is all very well for the Moray Council’s SNP administration to praise new Scottish Government policy which will provide more funded places for pre-schoolers, stating groups have already signed up to it, but they have failed to include the fact that the payment schedule, upon which so many of the independent groups rely, has been delayed, which could mean they close and won’t be able to offer any places at all in future.”

Douglas said: “To only inform them in the last week of term, and give them just two weeks to sign and send back their contract to the council is unfair and I have asked the council to look at this again and set the minds of childcare providers at rest. Provision for pre-schoolers could be put under threat if this issue is not resolved quickly.”