YOUNG children in Helensburgh are set to receive 1,140 hours of free nursery education from later this summer – after research revealed that the local authority is one of only eight in Scotland set to meet a government target.

Argyll and Bute, in common with all Scottish local authorities, was told by the Scottish Government it would have to provide the expanded 'early learning and childcare' service from August of this year.

But in March the Scottish Government announced that councils would no longer be legally required to meet the target by August because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The service is being provided to all children aged three and four, and also to eligible two-year-olds.

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However, research has found that Argyll and Bute Council is one of only eight Scottish authorities on course to still meet the target by next month.

The easing of Scotland's lockdown limits has raised hopes that the planned refurbishment programme to offer the expanded service can be complete by August.

Argyll and Bute’s education spokesperson, Cllr Yvonne McNeilly, said: “Our plans to expand ELC provision in Argyll and Bute were on schedule for completion by the August deadline.

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"However, as with so many other aspects of community life, these have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in terms of our ability to complete the planned refurbishment programme.

“We have continued to liaise with parents, partners, practitioners and community groups to ensure all are kept informed on how things are progressing despite the changed circumstances we are all having to deal with.

“We look forward to resuming work on our refurbishment programme and delivering the planned expansion of ELC hours.”

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