The award made to SINA to establish the Childcare Partnership Liaison Service was one of six to organisations working with children and young people announced last week by deputy education minister Nicol Stephen.
The Scottish Childminding Association and Scottish Out of School Care Network were both also given awards for projects they will lead, but which will benefit all childcare providers, including the maintained sector. The organisations will work together closely on all three projects.
Patricia McGinty, one of SINA's directors, said, 'SINA is delighted that recognition has been given to its long-held vision of how achievable inclusive childcare can be when partners strive to work together. Through the Partnership Liaison Project SINA looks forward to promoting good models of partnership in practice and assisting childcare partnerships who may have had difficulty in encompassing all partners in the past.' The cash will be used to employ a childcare liaison officer who will support private and voluntary sector interests on partnerships, and work with the Scottish Executive's own childcare partnership national development officer.
The grant for the liaison officer follows concerns that some partnerships had been taken over by local authorities. These emerged in a study carried out by consultants Blake Stevenson for the Scottish Executive and published in October. (See News, 9 November). One person interviewed for the study said, 'The council could have expanded the (childcare) places with the money that has come through. We don't need the partnership to tell us how to do what we've been doing for years.'
The Scottish Childminding Association has received just under 50,000 for its Rolling Out the Care Standards project, which will provide information on the new standards of registration and inspection for childcare providers across the private and voluntary sector. SCMA director Anne McNellan said, 'We are absolutely delighted that the Scottish Executive is funding the project and are looking forward to working in partnership with other childcare organisations.'
The Scottish Out of School Care Network won two grants totalling 43,260 to work with local enterprise companies to develop a business development guide publicising local enterprise companies' services and funding for childcare. SOSCN will also develop a Playcare map that analyses play and care provision for children with special needs.
SOSCNdirector Irene Audain said, 'We welcome the funding to facilitate projects that will benefit the Scottish childcare sector and hope they will contribute to quality development in the future.'
The Aberlour Childcare Trust received just under 100,000 to support a programme working with children who are prone to running away from home. The National Foster Care Association received 120,000 for a support scheme for young people who are leaving the care system, and Big Brothers and Sisters, a local project based in Edinburgh, received 25,000 to provide support to lone parent families.
Altogether the grants totalled more than 370,000. Deputy education minister Nicol Stephen said, 'We want to ensure that every child and young person has the best possible start in life. The hard work and commitment of these groups can help make this a reality.'
