At last week's conference in Glasgow on rural childcare services, deputy minister for rural development Rhona Brankin said, 'Our strategy recognises that quality services for young children bring long-term benefits - not only to them, but also to their parents and wider families, to their communities, and to society at large. We know from research that the early years are vital.
'We are deeply committed to this agenda - and deeply committed to children's services to help achieve our goal of social justice with prosperity.'
The minister singled out as examples of good practice a clutch of childcare initiatives in rural areas, including Orkney Islands Council, which has set up an equipment lending library to provide cots, double buggies and other items to childminders.
She also praised as an example of 'joined up thinking' the Childcare for Choices scheme in Argyll and Bute, which promotes childcare as a job opportunity and provides financial support to prospective childminders to meet the requirements of registration. She commended a rural childcare project in Glencoe, Ballachulish, which provides full-time care five days a week, enabling local parents to return to work.
