Learning and childcare hubs for the children of key workers will remain open across Scotland over the Easter holidays, scheduled from Monday 06 April until Friday 17 April.
The move will help support NHS staff and other key workers on the frontline of the response to coronavirus (COVID-19).
All of Scotland’s local authorities will keep learning and childcare hubs open to support children and young people. The number of hubs open and the support they provide, will vary between each council area in response to local demand.
Education Secretary John Swinney MSP said:
“I am very grateful to colleagues in education and childcare who are working so hard to deliver this service.
“Clearly these are unprecedented times and this will be a very different Easter holiday period for teachers and pupils across the country. I would like to thank all of those who volunteered to provide support.
“Our key workers are on the frontline of the response to coronavirus and it’s only right that we do everything we possibly can to support them.
“By keeping learning and childcare hubs open, we can make sure children are safe and well looked-after while their parents are doing critical jobs helping our communities.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP commented:
“Key workers are crucial to keeping people alive and services functioning. We must make it as easy as possible for them to concentrate on the very difficult task at hand and support them in any way we can.
“It makes sense to continue the hubs open for the children of those who simply cannot get time off during this pandemic. Having children unable to spend holidays with their parents is due to a unique set of circumstances that will hopefully never occur again.”
Key workers whose children already attend learning and childcare hubs should be contacted by North Ayrshire Council (NAC) to explain the arrangements over the spring break.
NAC updates its website regularly with the latest information on the learning and childcare hubs and can be contacted directly for further information if necessary.
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