£11 million for early learning and training in Fife

Gary Fitzpatrick • Published 6 Sep 2012 10:30 3 Comments

SPENDING plans to invest a total of £11 million in early years learning alongside training and apprenticeship have been unveiled by Fife Council.

Administration leader Alex Rowley confirmed the intention to bring forward proposals this month for a new investment of £6 million into early years education and support over the next five years.

There will be a further investment of £5 million for training and apprenticeship places for young Fifers over the next two years.

Mr Rowley told the Press; "We have been working with officials over the last few months to start the process of redirecting resources to the frontline and to the priorities we set out last May.

"All the evidence supports the view that children develop from an early age and the more support and love they get, the more able they will be as they grow up and that is why we are proposing to put more money into early years.

" We also believe the levels of unemployment and lack of work and apprenticeships for young people is at a level that requires action at every level.

" Our aim is to get money direct to employers to assist them create the skills and training opportunities that give young people a chance.

The Labour leader confirmed the administration will be discussing their priority proposals with other political groupings within the council at a meeting of the cross party leaders group tomorrow (Friday).

He also confirmed that the changes being made in primary school classroom support would continue.

Mr Rowley added, "We are committed to supporting officers to bring about positive reforms in the way we deliver at the frontline across all public services.

"In education our objective is to get an additional £20 million to the frontline over the next five years and the £6 million for early years is the start of meeting that objective.

"We do however want to link such investment with reform of public services and will engage with all sectors in Fife to bring about such reform and get the best results for the public money we invest".

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This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 06 Sep 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  kaka30
  327 posts
  Sep 6, 12:48
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  It makes perfect economic sense to invest money on apprenticeships, well done to Fife Council but it should be led at Government level. If we don't start soon the skills gap is going to widen. The North Sea is already struggling to fill posts in busy periods but is doing nothing to resolve the problem. Young people working, learning a trade, the economic future of Britain put on a sound footing, a simplistic view maybe but a sensible one all the same.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 4     No 1

• 

  BigLeish
  7 posts
  Sep 7, 00:32
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  We've still to hear where Rowley's millions are coming from. What's he cutting to find £11m from the council's budget ?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 2     No 1

• 

  BigLeish
  7 posts
  Sep 7, 23:23
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  Ah, just found out. Most of the money is coming from the Scottish Government and the NHS. All of which would have happened anyway even if the Tories were running Fife Council ( God forbid ) ... some will say that the Tories ARE running Fife Council !!!!!!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 0

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