PLANS to expand free childcare provision by August have been shelved in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Fife Council will no longer be legally obliged to deliver 1,140 hours of funded childcare from the summer.

The Scottish Government said on Tuesday the move would allow local authorities to focus on the coronavirus pandemic response.

From August there was due to be an increase in hours of free pre-school education for three and four-year-olds, as well as eligible two-year-olds, from 600 hours to 1,140 hours.

Fife Council has been building new nurseries and recruiting hundreds of staff, including Hill of Beath Nursery and one at the former Lochgelly North School.

No date has been given as to when it might become a legal obligation again.

Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd, and COSLA spokesperson for Children and Young People, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: “Before the extent of the Covid-19 pandemic became clear a couple of weeks ago, Audit Scotland confirmed we were on track to deliver 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare from August 2020.

"Indeed, Councils had already built or refurbished hundreds of buildings and recruited thousands of additional staff, and in excess of 50,000 children were already receiving more than the current entitlement of 600 hours.

“That progress was driven by and a testament to the strong partnership working between central and local government throughout the expansion programme.

"Our commitment to delivering the expansion, and to making sure our children have access to the best support and opportunities for development in their early years, remains undimmed and our partnership working will continue with that aim".

By Monday night there were 70 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Fife, a rise of 12 from Sunday. Across Scotland 1,563 tests were positive.

Meanwhile, 13,061 tests were confirmed negative.

A total of 47 patients, as of yesterday, who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) have died including two from Fife who passed away last week.

One of those who died was a man said to be from the Cowdenbeath area.

Meanwhile police, up to Monday had served only 25 notices through the new powers given to them by the Scottish Parliament to enforce the social distancing and stay at home guidance imposed at the beginning of last week.

In the main the guidelines have been well adhered to in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area albeit there were some reports of groups of youngsters gathering at Lochore Meadows Country Park over the weekend.

See news on local aspects of the coronavirus crisis throughout the paper.