Breakfast clubs fight for survival

Based on interviews with 49 clubs in the region, the council found that many breakfast clubs 'struggled' with very low uptake and high operating costs. Use was as low as two to three children in some clubs that had a registered capacity for ten times that amount.

Yvonne Crombie, childcare and early years co-ordinator at Fife Council, said that breakfast clubs were a 'considerable drain on resources' and there was a 'constant pressure to make them viable'. But she added, 'The poor attendance is despite evidence from parents surveyed, saying that there is a latent demand for before-school provision.'

The cost of the provision was also raised as a concern in the report, as there is evidence in some schools of children being dropped off in the playground as early as 8am. Ms Crombie said that the council plans to join together breakfast clubs where the funding has run out, but stressed that parents would be consulted before any decisions were made.

She said the difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff in the out-of-school sector represent a 'serious issue' which is 'impacting on the ability to develop clubs in some areas'. Out-of-school care was thought to be unappealing as a career, while clubs operated by volunteers felt threatened by council-run clubs that were able to offer higher wages.

However, Ms Crombie said that the council-run clubs also face the same recruitment difficulties as a result of rapid expansion.

Fife Council was awarded 1.3m from the New Opportunities Fund this year to develop 14 new projects in out-of-school care over the next three years. Further funding from the childcare and early years strategy has enabled new out-of-school clubs to open in rural areas where there would previously have been little hope of sustaining viable clubs in the voluntary or private sectors.

The council's children's service committee is due to review progress in a year's time.