Paisley mum launches petition fighting "unjust" policy on 30 hours free childcare
Vahri Gemmell has launched a petition calling on Renfrewshire Council to reverse changes to its nursery guidelines.
A Paisley mother says Renfrewshire Council’s nursery policies are depriving children of early years education while penalising parents financially.
Vahri Gemmell has launched a petition calling on the council to reverse changes to its nursery guidelines and provide children with 30 hours free childcare from their third birthday. Currently, the local authority only provides funding from the start of the next school term.
For some families forced to pay for full-time childcare, the approach can cost them up to £4,000 over four months. And for those who can’t afford the fee, their child has to wait until the next academic term to gain access to the council-run early years centre.
In a petition launched on change.org, Vahri said families are being penalised purely on their child’s date of birth and argued immediate access to early years was a matter of providing equal opportunities.
“The recent shift in admission policy by Renfrewshire Council in 2024 has resulted in an unjust disparity in access to early education for children turning three”, she said.
“Our children will now miss out on up to four crucial months of education, which under previous arrangements, would have been funded.
“This issue has directly impacted my son Adam, forcing us to bear additional financial burdens during an already challenging cost-of-living crisis.
“The child’s place is vacant and allocated but only accessible at three years old if parents are willing to pay for this ‘early’ access; meaning this is purely a financial ploy by Renfrewshire Council.”
The council will allocate places within its early years centres when a child turns three but will only fund the place from the next academic term. For Vahri and her son Adam, who was born in September this is a delay in funding of almost four months.
She added: “I realise this may not change things for us but this isn’t just about my family. This petition aims to reverse this decision for all families in this situation.
“If other councils such as Glasgow City and East Dunbartonshire can sustain these costs, why can’t Renfrewshire? This is not just about the costs but children’s development too. In the UK, government reports have continually upheld the importance of early childhood education, noting its role in shaping a child’s cognitive, social and emotional development.
“A child’s learning is cumulative, and missing out on early educational exposure can have lasting effects. Therefore, it’s essential to enable all children to access their entitlement to early education from their third birthday, rather than wait for the next term.
“Let us ensure that all children can access the best start to their education journey. Please sign this petition to request Renfrewshire Council to reform its nursery start dates for three-year-olds.”
The petition has garnered 145 signatures to date, with many parents in a similar situation voicing the same frustration over the current policy.
A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council said: “We changed our policy on when free childcare placements for eligible three-year-olds would be offered in March 2024 to bring us into line with Scottish Government guidance which states local authorities should provide places for children from the start of term after they become eligible.”
To view and sign the petition click here.
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