Policy Area 1A. Childcare
Summary
Childcare is a vital service that supports children’s development and enables parents – particularly mothers – to work, study or train. It plays a central role in tackling women’s economic inequality and supporting long-term financial wellbeing.
Scotland has made meaningful progress in expanding Early Learning and Childcare (ELC), particularly through the introduction of 1,140 funded hours. Regulation and quality monitoring are strong, and targeted support exists for children who most need it.
However, accessibility remains a major barrier. Provision for children under three is limited, flexibility varies significantly between local authorities, and costs can be high for families who need full-year or wraparound childcare. Out-of-school childcare is not yet statutory, and current provision is inconsistent, leaving many families-especially those working non-standard hours or living in rural areas-without reliable support.
The sector also faces workforce and financial pressures, including rising running costs and fragile sustainability across providers. These challenges reduce families’ ability to access work, training or education and contribute to persistent gender inequality.
Indicators in this policy area
Indicator 1A.1. Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)
Scotland has strong regulation and monitoring frameworks for funded Early Learning and Childcare. However, limited flexibility, lack of universal provision for children under the age of three, workforce pressures and variation in local availability mean that accessibility remains a significant barrier for many families.
View indicator +Indicator 1A.2. Out of School Childcare (OOSC)
Out of school childcare refers to childcare provided before and after the school day and during school holidays. Although the Scottish Government has committed to establishing a national system of school-age childcare, no formal policy has been implemented. Current provision is inconsistent and varies significantly by area. The overall score of 0% reflects the absence of formal policy, however, to reflect progress towards the existence of a policy, relevant criteria were scored to provide a guide.
View indicator +Key challenges
- Limited provision for children under three.
- Flexibility varies widely between local authorities.
- High costs for childcare beyond funded hours.
- Out-of-school childcare not yet established as a national system.
- Workforce and financial pressures affecting sustainability.
Key strengths
- Strong regulation and monitoring of funded ELC.
- Significant investment through the 1,140 hours expansion.
- Targeted support for children and families who need it most within ELC