UNISON secures council pledge to consult staff and unions in Playgroups review - Dec 2009

UNISON along with GMB and Unite met with Rod Stone, Head of Service for Lifelong Learning and Leisure, and Anne Simpson, CLD manager on 20th Nov 2009, to discuss the implications of the forthcoming review for playgroup staff.

Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair, who attended the meeting said, "This meeting came about as a result of the concerns of UNISON members who are playgroup staff, that changes were being proposed for playgroups without proper consultation. UNISON took these concerns up with the council and as a result, a meeting was convened to explain the position. The council assured the trade unions that the review will follow proper procedures and there will be full consultation. They pledged that no decisions or action will be taken on the future of playgroups until the review has been completed."

Reasons for review
In a letter to all playgroup staff, Anne Simpson, CLD manager has explained that the review has come about because there have been significant changes agreed by the government in recent years to the provision that local authorities must make for pre-school education. The Education, Learning & Leisure Committee agreed that a review of Early Years Provision in Aberdeenshire should be undertaken in order to ensure that the council provides both the number of places required and that provision meets the necessary standards.

One of the aims of the review is to adopt a more integrated approach to Early Years provision within the Education Learning and Leisure Service which will involve transferring the responsibility for playgroups currently managed through Community Learning and Development to an integrated Early Years Service. The council expects the review to be completed by the summer of 2010. Until the review reports, there will be no changes to the current playgroup provision.

The first part of the review will examine the number of early years places that need to be provided in each Community School Network and the level of provision that is required to offer a place to all those parents who wish one. Work on this is underway. This will allow the Education, Learning & Leisure Service to plan more effectively and efficiently to meet the requirement by Scottish Government to provide quality early years places for all 3-5 year olds.

The letter makes clear that through the review the council will ensure that pre-school education is provided for all three to five year olds and for younger children with special needs. Financial support will be provided by the Aberdeenshire Childcare Partnership with supplementary funding coming from Surestart for those with special needs.

Implications for staff - UNISON will support members
It warns, however, that this funding is finite so the council will not be able to fund places which exceed the required provision. This is likely to have implications for a number of playgroups that currently operate under the auspices of Community Learning and Development but, until the review is at a more advanced stage, it is not possible to say which playgroups will be affected, and no changes will be implemented until the review is completed.

However, it is likely that the review will have implications for some playgroups and some staff. The service has pledged to follow Council procedures in relation to any staff who might be affected by the outcome of this review and UNISON will continue to support any members affected.

UNISON will continue to meet with the other trade unions and management as the review progresses to discuss the implications for staff in each network and will ennsure members are kept informed and consulted as appropriate.

Anne Simpson and Glenda Gray from Human Resources will be arranging to meet with each Playgroup and its staff in the New Year to discuss the situation. Parents will also be given information about this review and why it is being undertaken and given an assurance that places will be provided to all who are entitled to them.

In concluding her letter to playgroup staff, Anne Simpson says "I am sure you will appreciate the necessity of carrying out the review but I understand that you may have concerns about how you will be affected by it. Please be assured that no decisions or action will be taken on the future of the Playgroups or the staff until the review has been completed."

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