What this indicator measures

This indicator assesses how well Scotland provides early childhood education and care for children aged 0 to 5. It considers accessibility, equity and inclusion, provision for children with additional support needs, flexibility for working families, affordability, quality assurance and funding.

Key findings

• Scotland has a strong legislative foundation through the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. Quality assurance and regulation are well-developed, reflected in a high score for regulatory oversight.
• Provision remains limited for under three-year-olds. 
• Flexibility varies between local authorities and families who need full-year or wraparound childcare may face significant costs.
• Availability also varies across the country, particularly in rural areas. 
• Financial pressures affect the sustainability of many childcare providers.

Impacts on families

• Women report that provision is often not flexible enough to match working patterns. Some families struggle to secure places, especially in rural areas.
• The lack of provision for children under the age of three often results in mothers reducing their employment or delaying returning to work.
• Delays in receiving funded entitlement, such as children only becoming eligible the term after they turn three, can result in significant childcare costs for families during the interim period.

Accessibility considerations

• Thirty-one percent of parents of children with additional support needs report difficulties accessing Early Learning and Childcare.
• For children with profound and multiple learning disabilities, sixty-two percent of parents report being unable to access the full entitlement.

Budget context

• The Scottish Government spends approximately one billion pounds per year on the delivery of funded Early Learning and Childcare.
• Audit Scotland has highlighted uncertainty around the total cost of implementing the expansion and concerns over the financial sustainability of providers.
• Rising food and energy costs have placed additional pressure on private and voluntary sector settings.

Lived experience

“The 30 hours does not fully cover the cost of year-round private nursery, and council nurseries offer term-time only.”

Parent quoted in SWBG Policy Briefing: Childcare Survey

Overall interpretation

Scotland has laid important groundwork in Early Learning and Childcare, but the system is not yet delivering equitable access for all families. Improvements are needed in flexibility and, place availability as well as affordability and provision for younger children. Financial pressures further limit the ability of the policy to deliver its intended impact.