AN outspoken critic of Fife Council's nursery allocation system said she has "no confidence" that there'll be any improvements this year.

Labour councillor Helen Law had called for changes and said "something has clearly gone far wrong" after scores of parents were unhappy with the places given to their kids last year – while more than 300 children initially weren't offered anything.

Parents are currently being asked to select their choices for this summer's nursery intake but Cllr Law said: "I'm afraid I've no confidence that it's going to be any better this year.

"They're still not giving priority where there's a sibling already at the school which I'm really mad about.

"What parent wants to be in two different places in the morning?"

Last May, Cllr Law labelled the process an “omni-shambles” after 385 children were told they didn’t have a place for August while others could not return to the nursery they were attending and were told they must go elsewhere.

She was also annoyed that priority was not given to youngsters going to a nursery where there was an elder sibling at the attached school.

Cowdenbeath MSP Annabelle Ewing said there were "significant and genuine parent concerns" about the process while council co-leader David Ross admitted there seemed to be “a mismatch between what parents want and the models we’re able to give them”.

Cllr Law said: "It could almost be as bad this year, I hope not, although they are now going to give priority for children to return to the same nursery."

A working group was set up to review the 2020 allocation system and some changes have been made.

The Scottish Government's decision to almost double the amount of free childcare for pre-school kids, from 600 hours to 1,140, was welcomed by parents.

However, it meant huge upheaval for the council as they needed to build new nurseries and employ more staff, with parents asked to choose new time slots.

Lockdown led the Scottish Government to tell councils they could postpone the implementation of the 1,140 hours, it was supposed to come in last August, but Fife decided to offer it where they could.

However, Cllr Law said: "I've been looking at the paperwork and it's blatantly obvious that 9am to 3pm is the most popular choice.

"People didn't really want 8 in the morning to 6 at night for two and a half days, most wanted 9-3 all week so that should be the core provision.

"In actual fact, most people just wanted a place at their local nursery, that was almost more important than the different hours that were being offered."