Top marks for key worker childcare hubs

CHILDCARE hubs for key workers during the coronavirus outbreak are up and running across Inverclyde – with almost 100 young people now in attendance at 11 centres.

The council-run facilities have been set up at schools and nurseries, such as Inverclyde Academy secondary in Greenock, for children of parents who are providing vital services amid the Covid-19 pandemic, including the NHS and other health and social care staff, as the emergency services.

The hubs launched last Wednesday (25 March) and are now well-established with places offered to all category one and two key workers, as outlined by the Scottish Government, and some category three personnel.

Centres are being run by education staff from across Inverclyde who volunteered to help out.

They are being supported by a variety of other local authority employees, including secretaries, janitors, cooks and delivery drivers, to ensure phones are answered, facilities are kept clean and tidy and that children continue to be fed.

Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s Convener of Education & Communities, said: “On behalf of the council, I’d like to thank each and every member of staff involved in these childcare hubs for ensuring that our other key workers in the likes of the NHS and emergency services can continue doing their best to keep us all heathy and safe during these unprecedented and challenging times.

“There’s been a monumental effort across the board to get these hubs set up almost overnight and for them to be running so smoothly is testament to that.

“It’s great to see that the children and staff attending these centres are also having so much fun in a safe and responsible manner during these extremely difficult times.”

Childcare hubs are strictly for key workers and only to be used if a parent’s work situation is critical.

Places at each centre are dependent on the availability of staff and all efforts are being made to accommodate as many children as possible.

Each hub is equipped with hand sanitizing stations, cleaning wipes, rubber gloves and there is even a ban on holding doors open for each other to ensure the strictest compliance with government health and safety and social-distancing measures of staying two metres apart.

The pupils must wash their hands regularly throughout the day and are kept in very small groups for everyone’s safety.

Education staff work in two shifts – morning and afternoon – with activities taking place indoors and outside.

At Inverclyde Academy, around 15 children aged between four and 12 have been attending each day.

They can draw and colour in an art room, read or log onto a computer in the library or keep fit and play games, such as table tennis and badminton, in the PE hall.

There is also a nursery class for younger children.

Susan Chambers, Inverclyde Academy deputy head teacher, said: “The feedback from parents and children alike has been extremely positive.”

The 11 key worker childcare hubs, the schools and nurseries they apply to and contact details for each centre are listed below.

To enquire about the availability of places, phone the hubs directly.

 

Hub – this is where the hub will be located	Open to pupils from	Contact number from 8.30am – 3pm
Glenpark Hub Madeira Street Greenock PA16 7FX	Wellpark Children's Centre Glenpark Early Learning Centre	01475 715620
Bluebird Hub St Joseph’s Primary, Community Wing Wren Road Greenock PA16 7NH	Bluebird Family Centre Binnie Street Children's Centre Larkfield Children's Centre	01475 715722
Craigmarloch Hub Craigmarloch School Port Glasgow Campus PA14 6PP	Craigmarloch School	01475 715345
Inverclyde Academy Hub Inverclyde Academy Cumberland Road Greenock PA16 0FB	Inverclyde Academy Inverkip Primary Wemyss Bay Primary Aileymill Primary St Andrew’s Primary St Joseph’s Primary	01475 715100
Lady Alice Hub Lady Alice Primary Inverkip Road Greenock PA16 9EH	Notre Dame High St Patrick's Primary Whinhill Primary Lady Alice Primary	01475 715743
Clydeview Hub Clydeview Academy Burnside Road Gourock PA19 1UX	Clydeview Academy Ardgowan Primary St Mary’s Primary	01475 715050
Moorfoot Hub Moorfoot Primary Moorfoot Drive Gourock PA19 1ES	Gourock Primary St Ninian’s Primary St Columba’ High Moorfoot Primary	01475 715701
All Saints Hub All Saints Primary Blairmore Road Greenock PA15 3JS	King’s Oak Primary All Saints Primary	01475 715640
Glenbrae Hub Glenbrae Children’s Centre Kilmacolm Road Greenock PA15 3LD	Glenbrae Children’s Centre Hillend Children’s Centre Blairmore Nursery King’s Oak Nursery Class	01475 714987
Newark Hub Newark Primary Bridgend Avenue Port Glasgow PA14 5SU	Port Glasgow High St Stephen’s High St Francis’ Primary St Michael’s Primary St John’s Primary Newark Primary Kilmacolm Primary Gibshill Children’s Centre	01475 715600
Rainbow Hub Oronsay Avenue Port Glasgow PA14 6DY	Rainbow Family Centre	01475 715724

Page last updated: 1 April 2020