Meg Macleod, SINA vice-convenor for the west of Scotland and Glasgow Education/Childcare Partnership Board member, believes the council is 'wholeheartedly' fulfilling the challenges set out in The Childcare Challenge: A Childcare Strategy for Scotland document. She said, 'The transparent common-sense approach by Glasgow has been the strength which has resulted in the success of the partnership, with no hidden agendas, no power struggles, only the common goal to create, maintain and develop childcare city-wide.'
A range of initiatives has been introduced by Glasgow in consultation with its partners, including using strategy funding to develop 1,353 new childcare places this year and more than 1,300 places sustained through grant and letting subsidies. Partnership nurseries have access to top-sliced funds, which are a source of conflict between many councils and providers, and can decide how to spend their budget. Nurseries can use the money to purchase curriculum support materials and ITC resources for children or to pay for the additional cost of a teacher. Glasgow has set up 13 local forums with representatives including providers, parents and local businesses. The council has also funded a full-time development co-ordinator for SINA for three years to support independent nurseries' response to the Government's childcare strategy.
Inez Murray, manager of Four Seasons Nursery in Glasgow, said, 'Glasgow has been very pro-active and forward-thinking in its approach to partnerships. As a partnership nursery that meets its criteria I have access to top-slicing money and am able to use it for the benefit of staff and children. I use it to access training for staff and provide extra equipment and resources for children.
'The council are also working closely with SINA in a number of pilot projects. One of my nursery nurses is training to be an assessor for SVQs and this will benefit her and the broader partnership. I feel it is the true meaning of partnership as the private sector is sharing information and working with the public sector. With the huge demand for flexibility, the private sector can provide wrap-around care which local authority nurseries find difficult.'