Our budget consultation 2023/24 is now closed.
We will make sure that your comments are reviewed and used to inform the 2023/24 budget that will be set by Council on 23 February 2023.
We want to make sure that every young person in East Ayrshire has the best start in life. This means giving them the support they need, when and where they need it, to help them to achieve their aspirations and potential.
All our early childhood centres (ECC) and partner providers now offer 1140 hours of funded early learning and childcare (ELC). This means that all three and four year olds, and eligible two year olds, can now benefit from the expansion of this service.
The Scottish Government has an ambition to expand funded early learning and childcare. The first step on the journey - to develop a year-round system of affordable childcare for families - is planned for summer 2023, with a long-term aim to help tackle child poverty, help close the attainment gap and give parents/carers who want to get in to work, a chance to work, train or study more flexibly.
We’re committed to developing a new multi-disciplinary, community facing approach in school clusters. These will provide the best possible all-inclusive wellbeing for our children and their families. We’ll keep listening and including children and young people in the decisions that affect their lives.
Through partnership working we will also make sure our young people have the skills that they need, and can benefit from Ayrshire Growth Deal opportunities to meet the demands of the future world of work.
The Pupil Equity Fund (PDF 267Kb) and Scottish Attainment Challenge have provided us with extra funding to support improved attainment and outcomes for our most disadvantaged learners and to close the poverty related attainment gap. However, this funding will be phased out over the coming years and we will be looking at how we can continue to offer effective support.
Our Vibrant Communities Team empowers members of our communities, young and old, to live happy, healthy, connected and fulfilling lives. Working with East Ayrshire Leisure and other partners, we provide a variety of activities to keep young people active and engaged, including sports and physical activity, youth clubs and youth forums.
Our Children and Young People’s Cabinet is helping to make real changes, in areas such as net zero and the economy.
How to have your say
Our budget engagement process took place from 18 January to 1 February 2023 and is now closed.