After-school club shock for parents as budget cuts begin to take effect
Perthshire parents have been shocked to learn that some of their after-school clubs are facing closure.
- Published in the Courier : 23.02.11
- Published online : 23.02.11 @ 09.32am
Letters from Perth and Kinross Council have been sent home to parents outlining the local authority's intention to shut or reduce after-school childcare.
Parents have slammed the plan, saying it would leave them "struggling" to organise childcare come the school bell.
Proposed closures include the clubs in Abernethy, Birnam and Dunkeld, Blackford, Coupar Angus, Craigie/Moncrieffe, Crieff, Comrie, Errol, Longforgan and Pitlochry.
The Bridge of Earn Village Kids Club would only run in term times and the breakfast club would be shut. Scone and Invergowrie clubs would be reduced to term time only and Milnathort would cease to pick up from Portmoak.
Blairgowrie Kids Club would lose one play assistant and cut supervisor hours to 20 during term time and 37 in the holidays.
Parents at Longforgan Primary School, which is having its after-school service withdrawn by the council, have spoken of their dilemma.
Freddie Warden (44) said, "We are panicking. It's going to be a real blow. We will struggle and we will do all we can to help keep it open."
Jez Wardman (49), a landscape gardener from Longforgan, said, "It will affect us quite a lot. We use it two or three times a week and we rely on it in the holidays.
"I heard last night the council are going to charge £30 to rent the school per hour. It makes it totally unviable."
Changes will come into force from July 1 and the council has promised to help parents arrange alternative childcare. One option being mooted is parents organising or running their own after-school service, as happens in Dundee through the parent committees. School premises could then be rented from the council once the teachers have gone home.
The council spokesman said, "If an alternative care provider wished to use a school premises then normal letting arrangements would apply, including charges."
There had been a review to identify some of the clubs not used enough to justify the subsidy from the education department.
The council confirmed some holiday clubs will be reduced and some stopped altogether.
10.41am - 23.02.2011 Looks after own child - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Some children get dumped in breakfast clubs & afterschool clubs in the evenings & during holidays and are therefore never away from the school environment. Don't have children if you don't want to or can't look after them. It's the parents responsibility to look after their children not the councils
04.42pm - 23.02.2011 Angela Thornburn - Ardler, Dundee Report This
This does not happen in Dundee. The workers are Council employees and have been for some time. They have committees for sure like schools and nurserys, but they not paid by these committees, they are Council employees.
07.35pm - 23.02.2011 Rachel Coleman - Errol, UK Report This
On the day of the official opening of the school in Errol we were told that our after school club was to close. There are no other available options locally. It is a devastating blow to a rureal community. there has been no consultation with parents or attempt to establish future needs.
09.58pm - 23.02.2011 Lorna Pennycook - Errol, UK Report This
Apparently the review mentioned in this article hasn't actually taken place yet, but parents have received letters telling them about the closures. For working parents, paying taxes to both national and local government, these clubs are a lifeline.
04.22pm - 30.08.2011 UK Taxpayer - Perth, UK Report This
re. "looks after own child" I work and pay taxes so that you can pick up a dole cheque or rely on your man to go out and work while you watch Loose Women
Add a comment