Child care centre in Brora cuts service as it struggles to meet updated Care Inspectorate criteria
Sutherland’s only child care centre is to close a large part of its service because it can no longer meet stringent updated criteria set by the Care Inspectorate, it has emerged.
Sutherland Stepping Stones Childcare Centre in Brora will no longer provide before and after school care for school children from Friday, April 4, parents and carers who use the service have been told.
The move has sparked fears that parents and carers could lose their jobs due to a lack of available childcare.
Local councillors, who are fighting depopulation and say childcare is a key factor in attracting young families to the area, have become involved in the issue.
They are now working with the Care and Learning Alliance (CALA), which runs Sutherland Stepping Stones, to address the problems that are hampering the service.
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Golspie Community Council discussed the situation at its meeting on Monday and agreed to write to MSPs and Scotland’s Minister for Children and Young People Natalie Don, to protest against a “one size fits all” system that penalises rural childcare providers.
Sutherland Stepping Stones, based in the community centre next to Brora Primary School, provides day care, early learning, and after-school, breakfast, and holiday clubs.
The centre looks after an average of 24 children per day, of whom between two to eight are of school age. Seven families will be affected by the reduction in service.
CALA chief executive Jaci Douglas said: “After reviewing the current service, which is for children aged 0-12, we recognise we are no longer able to meet the increasing strict regulations from the Care inspectorate with regards to environment, toileting and resourcing.
“Therefore, from Friday, April 4, we will only be offering childcare for children aged 0-5 years. This will ensure a safe, high-quality service for the children in our care, whilst we consider if we are able to offer an alternative service for older school aged children moving forward, although that would need to be in a different way than we currently do.
“We absolutely recognise that this is a valued service and that no longer providing care for school-aged children will have an impact on families in the community, and we sincerely apologise for the situation and any impact or anxiety this causes.”
“However, as a registered care provider, we must meet stringent regulations, which we are currently unable to do with such a broad age range of children in a single space. Our 0-5 year old provision is unchanged.
Councillor Richard Gale, chairman of Sutherland County Committee, said he and his ward colleague, Councillor Jim McGillivray, were working with CALA to support them in overcoming the barriers they face.
“We are working with CALA to see how they can provide an alternative service. There are various options,” he said. “It is an issue that I am very keen to solve because I know one of the biggest drivers of depopulation is the lack of childcare.”
He added: “Rules and regulations should be relaxed for rural providers - that is why we only have 17 child minders across the whole of the Highlands.”
Golspie Community Council discussed whether a "bridging solution" could be found but were shocked to realise that no public building in Golspie or Brora met the criteria.
Chairperson Henrietta Marriott said an urgent solution was required as there was a need for child care in the area.
“It is unrealistic to expect small rural communities to comply with the same stringent rules. They are applying a standard that is only fit for purpose in large conurbations,” she said.
“We need a special dispensation to prevent the depopulation of the Highlands caused by parents losing their jobs because there is no childcare available.”
