Scheme faces uncertainty

Explore Learning, which provides maths and English tuition to children aged from five to 14, may close following a decision by the Care Inspectorate to de-register the scheme.

The group’s bosses have warned parents that they will no longer be able to use working tax credit or childcare vouchers to access its services.

One parent, Fiona Fraser, said: “It seems common sense has gone out the window. I think this is a case of it not ticking a box, it’s rules gone mad.”

West of Scotland MSP Maurice Golden has now called on the Scottish Government to save the service. He said: “Explore Learning provides a great service to families but without Care Inspectorate registration, there is a possibility that it will no longer be available.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Care Inspectorate has advised Explore Learning it is of the view that the primary purpose of its services to be the provision of education services, rather than daycare. They were therefore advised of the decision to propose to cancel their registration.”