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Carol Ball and
UNISON Scotland's Child Care Charter |
The STUC will work across the early years
sector to ensure that all parents have
access to free, universal and flexible
childcare, geared to the needs of children
and their families and will press the
Scottish Government for proper resources
to support this.
Welcoming the commitment to date from
the Scottish Government, political parties,
business and civil society to good quality
early years education, child care and
out of school care, delegates nevertheless
recognised that the rising costs of child
care in Scotland still means that for
many families, work does not pay, and
has led to many parents, mainly women,
giving up their jobs.
Supporting, UNISON’s Carol Ball,
Chair of UNISON Scotland’s Education
Issues Group drew attention to UNISON’s
Childcare Charter launched last month
which mirrors much of the composite.
Carol said, “At the heart of any
provision offered, its standards and design
must meet the needs of those it is being
provided for, and in this case it is for
the early learning, care and wellbeing
needs of children and young people. This
must be paramount when we are discussing
what needs to be provided.”
She told delegates that UNISON’s
Charter calls for childcare free at the
point of delivery, provided by the public
sector, not for profit and designed by
local communities.
Carol welcomed the increase to 600 hours
of early learning and childcare, but told
of UNISON’s concerns that this was
not backed up by the increased resources
needed for planning, evaluation and monitoring
learning or to respond to the additional
support needs of children.
She warned, “Providing greater
flexibility and a seamless service has
an impact on the workforce itself –
a workforce that is predominantly female
with their own caring responsibilities.
Already as a result of the 600 hours many
of our members have had their conditions
changed, having to work longer hours yet
refused flexible working requests. Now
they have to juggle their work commitments
with no sustained child care in place.”
She also slammed the current salary differentials
in the early year’s workforce which
can be as low as £6.50 in the private
sector. “High quality can only be
achieved when the workforce is appropriately
trained, rewarded and have career paths,”
said Carol.
