A joint position paper created by One Parent Families Scotland and Close the Gap sets out principles for a childcare system that works for women, children and families, including those on low incomes:
The availability of accessible, affordable, and flexible childcare is critical to the realisation of women’s equality, and to improving children’s outcome in Scotland.
This position paper, produced in partnership with Close the Gap, presents a set of principles which should drive the next stages in the development of Scotland’s childcare offer.
These principles describe a system of childcare that promotes women’s socio-economic and labour market equality, advances children’s rights, and addresses child poverty.
Councils can now apply for their share of £4.5 million to support the provision of after school and holiday clubs for Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas.
The funding will help improve both indoor and outdoor spaces in the school estate, with schools also encouraged to consider wider community needs.
First Minister Humza Yousaf set out details of the funding as he convened a national anti-poverty summit in Edinburgh yesterday.
The First Minister said: “Tackling poverty must be a shared priority for us all and this summit offers the opportunity to listen to a wide range of views to help us take the right action to drive down inequality across Scotland.
“Helping families deal with cost of living pressures is one of our key priorities and providing further funding for affordable and accessible school age childcare will help deliver that.
“Funded school age childcare supports parents and carers into work and enables them to support their families, while also providing a nurturing environment for children to take part in a wide range of activities.
“Scotland already has the most generous childcare offer anywhere in the UK. All three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds are entitled to 1,140 hours a year of funded early learning and childcare. We are working with partners to make further progress, with plans to develop a funded early learning and childcare offer for one and two-year-olds by 2026, focusing on those who need it most.”
The Scottish Government will provide a £4.5m recurring Capital Fund, managed and administered by Scottish Futures Trust, to deliver improvements to the school estate that will support the provision of before and after school and holiday clubs within Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities.
The intention is that the fund will be limited to the school estate (both indoor and outdoor spaces) for year one, but schools will be encouraged to consider wider community needs and spaces where children want to be after school or during the holidays, particularly where links or partnerships already exist.
The £4.5m fund will be open to all Local Authorities who will be required to demonstrate how they have worked in partnership with school age childcare and activities providers, to be ambitious in their ideas, and to define projects which will deliver benefit for children and families, particularly those from low-income areas.
Funded school age childcare is targeted at families on the lowest incomes, specifically the six priority family types identified in the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan (lone parent families, minority ethnic families, families with a disabled adult or child, families with a younger mother [under 25], families with a child under one, and larger families.)
Independent survey shows benefits to children and families
The vast majority of parents using Scottish Government-funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) are satisfied with its quality, according to new research.
In an independent survey with more than 8,000 respondents, 97% of parents and carers with a three to five-year-old said they had accessed funded ELC places since August 2021 – and of those, 97% were satisfied with the quality of provision.
A total of 88% of those with a three to five-year-old were satisfied that they could use their funded ELC hours in a way that meets their family’s needs.
The main reasons parents and carers said they used ELC were to benefit their child’s development, confidence, independence and learning.
Survey respondents also valued the opportunities that funded ELC gave them to work, look for employment or to undertake education and training. Others reported that it alleviated stress and meant they had more time for themselves and their families.
Across Scotland, all three and four-year-olds and two-year-olds who need it most can access up to 1,140 hours of funded ELC a year. If families paid for the 1,140 hours themselves, it would cost them around £5,000 per eligible child per year.
In 2023-24, the Scottish Government will invest around £1 billion through local government in funding for the 1,140 hours offer.
Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said: “I am really encouraged to see such a high level of satisfaction among parents with the quality of the funded Early Learning and Childcare they have received.
“Scotland is the only part of the UK where all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds can access up to 1,140 hours of funded ELC a year. As this independent survey demonstrates, funded high-quality ELC brings a range of benefits to families, including helping children’s educational development and supporting parents’ ability to work and find employment.”
COSLA Children and Young People spokesperson Councillor Tony Buchanan said: “I welcome the publication of this report, which provides valuable insights into parents’ use of, and views on, Early Learning and Childcare provision in Scotland.
“The findings clearly show the significant impact that the increased entitlement to 1,140 hours of funded ELC is having, and indicate high levels of satisfaction and positive experiences amongst those parents who responded to the survey, including in relation to flexibility, accessibility, and quality of provision.
“Local Government is committed to continuing to work with our partners to ensure that funded ELC provision works for parents, carers, and children, including considering how remaining challenges might be addressed.”
The nation’s leading nursery group, Busy Bees, started the month with a buzz as Scotland’s first graduation ceremony for early years practitioners was held at Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms.
On Saturday 1October the qualification provider, Busy Bees Education and Training, invited 37 practitioners from across Scotland to don their gowns in celebration of achieving their Social Services Children and Young People SVQ 3 and SVQ 4 qualifications.
The ceremony comprised presentations of the graduates in front of their families and loved ones, as well as addresses from Yvonne Smillie, Busy Bees Scotland Managing Director; Cheryl Creaser, Group COO and Marg Randles, Busy Bees Co-Founder.
For some, the occasion was extra special, signifying the first member of their family to have achieved a higher qualification. Among those celebrating was a mother and daughter team from Dunfermline Castle View, Andrina June and Andrina Becky Francis, 58 and 21 respectively, who supported each other throughout their journeys to achieve their SVQ3.
Caroline Black, Childcare Assessor and Trainer at Busy Bees Education and Training Academy,said: “Andrina June was an amazing practitioner and her rapport with the children, staff and parents shone through. During the training programme she gained more confidence in her abilities and technology skills.
“Her daughter, Andrina Becky, was a committed learner from day one, she always used her initiative and was a super role model for other colleagues”, Caroline added.
Many graduates also conquered personal battles while studying for their qualification, with others continuing to provide the highest early years education and care for the children of key workers during the pandemic.
One graduate, 19-year-old Ailey from Edinburgh’s Newhaven centre, felt she didn’t have the confidence to undertake her SVQ3, saying “I didn’t do well at school; I was rubbish at everything!”
Ailey thought there was no chance she could complete a qualification, however, Caroline Black, saw great potential in her. She said: “Ailey was doing so well practically in the nursery, and had super knowledge of the specific needs of the children in her care.
“You wouldn’t believe her transformation! Going from a young girl who needed a boost in confidence to believing she is really good at what she does. She has gained much more experience in a variety of different areas, is now Room Manager of the Baby Room and has now started her SVQ4.”
In July 2022, Busy Bees was named one of the top 100 apprenticeship employers in the UK and since 2001 has offered additional support for those who want to earn early years qualifications. The apprenticeships help their teams across the country reach new heights and give children the best start in life.
Speaking at the event, Marg Randles, who co-founded Busy Bees nurseries nearly 40 years ago, said: “It is fantastic to recognise the achievements of all our graduates, especially in such challenging circumstances over the last two years. For many, this is their first formal qualification, and it means a lot to be able to support them on their learning journey.
“There is something special about seeing early years education as a profession with the opportunity to progress and develop. Many of us within the Busy Bees’ leadership team have followed that journey, and I’d urge anyone with a genuine passion for children to consider it as a profession.”
The graduation event celebrated 37 learners from Busy Bees’ 20 centres across Scotland, including 21 colleagues who achieved SVQ3 qualifications in Social Services (Children and Young People) SCQF Level 7.
A further 16 completed a Leadership qualification at SVQ4 (SCQF Level 9), many of whom have progressed through various roles within the nurseries to take on leadership positions, including becoming Centre Directors.
Busy Bees is currently recruiting for 30 positions for qualified educators and has openings for school and college leavers through its apprenticeship scheme who want to join and learn on the job.
To find out more about opportunities at Busy Bees in Scotland, please visit:
More families will benefit from funded school age childcare as part of a national mission to tackle child poverty.
The Scottish Government is investing £1 million to expand services in parts of Dundee, Glasgow, Clackmannanshire and Inverclyde, with a roll-out of similar provision in other parts of Scotland from April 2023.
Eligible low income families in the four targeted areas will be helped with the cost of childcare for primary school aged children. Families in most need will pay nothing.
Children’s Minister Clare Haughey, who today visited the Linlathen area of Dundee to speak to families accessing school age childcare, said: “Delivering our vision of a high-quality, affordable and accessible system of childcare is crucial to our national mission to tackle child poverty.
“It can help parents and carers to access work, training or study, while children benefit from additional opportunities to socialise and take part in a range of activities.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to delivering school age childcare – what we learn from the four areas that will see services expanded will help us understand what is needed to support families in different communities.”
Dundee City Council family support worker Doug Millar said: “The Linlathen project will go a long way to help remove barriers to childcare for people in this area.
“Parents will be able to access employment opportunities while their children are enjoying activities delivered in a safe and nurturing environment.”
The Scottish Government also confirmed today that it will continue the Nursery Rates Relief Scheme, providing 100% relief on non-domestic rates to eligible day nurseries beyond the current end date of 30 June 2023.
The commitment is contained in the new Strategic Early Learning and School Age Childcare Plan 2022-26. This focuses on building a national system of school age childcare and a new early learning and childcare (ELC) offer for one and two-year-olds. This will build on the success of the existing 1,140 hours of funded ELC offer for all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds.
Early Years Scotland Chief Executive Jane Brumpton said: “We welcome the publication of the Strategic Early Learning and Childcare Plan, which emphasises the importance of high-quality early years provision for children and families, whilst acknowledging the dedication and commitment of staff and partners across the early learning and childcare sector.
“We also welcome the extension of the nursery rates relief scheme which will support the sector during these challenging times ahead.
“We will look forward to working in partnership with Scottish Government and the ELC sector to implement the priorities within this plan and support innovative solutions that focus on the needs of children and families and support the early years sector to thrive and flourish.”
Package of measures will increase childcare support for parents, boost the number of childminders and drive take up of childcare offers, to address rising costs
The UK government has today announced ambitious new plans to improve the cost, choice and availability of childcare that will benefit hundreds of thousands of parents across the country.
The UK has some of the highest-quality childcare provision in the world with 96% of early years settings rated by Ofsted as good or outstanding, but it is also one of the biggest costs facing working families today. This means some families, in particular women, feel they are not able to return to the workplace after giving birth due to the high cost of putting their child into paid care.
With the cost of living continuing to rise, the UK government says it is committed to doing everything it can to support families with their finances while keeping people in high-wage, secure jobs that help grow the economy. New plans are being set out today to ensure high-quality and affordable childcare is accessible to all.
To drive down costs for providers and parents, a new consultation will look at increasing the number of children that can be looked after by each staff member in early years settings.
It will propose changing staff-to-child ratios from 1:4 to 1:5 for two-year-olds, giving providers more flexibility in how they run their businesses while maintaining safety and quality of care. Childcare for children aged 0-2 is the most expensive for providers to deliver, largely given the need for higher supervision levels.
This could potentially eventually reduce the cost of this form of childcare by up to 15%, or up to £40 per week for a family paying £265 per week for care for their 2-year-old, if providers adopt the changes and pass all the savings on to parents.
Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi said: “Every child deserves a great start in life and that means giving families the support they need.
Childcare is an integral part of our economy, and these reforms prove again that this government is on the side of working families. I’m hugely grateful to the thousands of dedicated early years professionals who provide daily care and education to our youngest children, which is why I am determined to support them by giving them greater flexibility in how they run their services.
This in turn will support thousands of families across the country, helping to develop children’s skills while also supporting parents into work.
The Westminster government will also increase choice and affordability for parents by taking action to open up the childminder market.
While early years settings such as nurseries are the most popular option for families, childminders are generally the most affordable and flexible form of childcare. While the average cost of a two-year-old attending a nursery for 50 hours a week in England is £265 per week, this compares to £236 with a childminder. The government will support more people to become childminders by:
Reducing the upfront costs of becoming a childminder via financial support;
Allowing childminders to spend more of their time working from a greater range of locations – for example a local community centre or village hall rather than their own home;
Giving childminders greater flexibilities within the ratios when looking after their own children or siblings of other children;
Working with Ofsted to reduce inspection of childminders; and
Slimming down the childminder specific Early Years Foundation Stage, reducing the framework by one-third to ensure content is targeted and simpler to navigate.
Government will streamline the Ofsted registration process for providers. More providers registering would mean that parents have a wider choice of providers on which to use these schemes, to pay for childcare that supports their working lives.
The government will also encourage the growth of Childminder Agencies (CMAs). CMAs could ultimately become major players in the childcare market – stimulating competition and driving down costs while providing parents with more options for care. CMAs are central bodies that remove the individual administrative and regulatory burden on childminders, as well as often providing parents with tools such as mobile apps through which to book their childcare.
Minister for Children and Families Will Quince said: “I’m proud of the excellent quality of childcare and early education in England, which is a huge asset to working parents. But too many are struggling to balance work with childcare costs.
“We know there are thousands of parents who are eligible for government support but not taking it up. That’s why we want to increase awareness of the existing childcare offers, allow providers to provide services more flexibly and make sure funding gets where it is needed most.”
Also announced today is an additional £10 million investment for Maintained Nursery Schools, into the supplementary funding they receive from 2023-24.
These settings often care for some of the most disadvantaged children in the country and have additional costs that other early years settings do not – such as the requirement to have a headteacher – because they are constituted as schools.
Since the introduction of the Early Years National Funding Formula in 2017, the UK government has provided supplementary funding for these nurseries to protect their funding levels.
This additional funding forms part of a separate consultation on plans to reform how early years funding is distributed around England, to ensure the system is fair, effective and responsive to changing levels of need.
The UK government has spent more than £4 billion each year for the last five years helping families with the cost of childcare, but almost one million eligible families have not taken up their right to Tax-Free Childcare, which is worth £2,000 per year or £4,000 for children with disabilities. Universal Credit Childcare allows families to reclaim 85% of their childcare costs, worth up to £1,108 per month.
The government is also driving a renewed campaign via the Childcare Choices website so parents can access the support they are entitled to, through a ramped-up marketing campaign backed by £1.2 million, which launched last week. This will also encourage providers to take the necessary steps to offer the full range of childcare support to parents using their services.
Exchequer Secretary Helen Whately said: “Tax-Free Childcare provides a helping hand with childcare costs for working families but thousands of parents could be missing out.
“With almost one million families eligible, I want to encourage parents to take advantage of this support of up to £2,000 per year for each child.”
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Thérèse Coffey said: “We want more people to take up Universal Credit childcare financial support that is available now to help working families.
“We also want more childcare providers to register with Ofsted and unlock more places that can be subsidised to help with the cost of living.”
The government also offers 15 hours per week of free childcare or early education for all 3- and 4-year-olds, rising to 30 hours for working families, and 15 hours for disadvantaged 2-year-olds.
The Government recently announced that eight million of the most vulnerable households (around a third of all UK households) will receive £1,200 this year and all families will receive £400 – this is on top of changes to Universal Credit, National Living Wage and National Insurance thresholds, so that people keep more of what they earn.
This takes total government cost of living support to over £37 billion – higher than other major economies around the world.
Gemma, from Portsmouth, a mum of one uses Tax-Free Childcare. She said: As a working mum, it can be tough balancing childcare. But Tax-Free Childcare allows me to free up cash that can cover the costs of other things – when you’re talking about saving 20% of your childcare costs it can make a big difference.
The Government has recently launched a new website which brings government support on offer together in one place so the public can see what support they could be eligible for: www.gov.uk/costoflivingsupport
Featuring on radio, social media and bus stop advertising, the campaign aims to increase parents’ awareness and understanding of the childcare support available to them from the government, and maximise the number of people who take up our offer. This will coincide with the school summer holidays, maximising take up over the long break and beyond.
The campaign will signpost to parents, bringing together in one place the support available through Universal Credit, Tax-Free Childcare and 15-30 hours free childcare, clearly setting out eligibility requirements and providing a handy calculator so parents can estimate their entitlement. We will also look at simplifying the website further to make it as easy as possible for parents to understand the support available.
Universal Credit’s childcare offer can save families hundreds of pounds each month – for example, a single parent with a young child who works in social care three days a week could benefit by around £500 a month if they claimed support for their childcare costs.
Tax-Free Childcare helps working families, including the self-employed, to reduce their household costs and keep more of what they earn. Working parents with annual salaries of up to £100,000 can get up to £2,000 of childcare support each year, or £4,000 for children with disabilities.
Recent Tax-Free Childcare statistics from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have revealed that 512,415 families received up to £2,000 towards the cost of their childcare during the 2021 to 2022 tax year, up from 374,135 in the previous year. More than 384,000 families used Tax-Free Childcare in March 2022 – the highest monthly number of families recorded using the scheme since it was launched in April 2017.
The announcements follow visits by Children’s Minister Will Quince to the Netherlands, Sweden, France and Scotland – whose staff:child ratios for two-year-olds the consultation launched today seeks to mirror.
The Government will also explore how to improve recruitment and retention of staff in the sector, giving parents as much confidence in the care their child receives as possible.
A growing number of families are accessing funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) across Scotland.The latest figures show that 121,101 children were in funded ELC places at the end of April 2022 – an increase of 9,527 since January 2022.
The entitlement to funded ELC increased to 1,140 hours in August last year, saving families up to £4,900 annually for each eligible child.
The ELC workforce also continues to increase, up 357 since January 2022, with 18,421 (FTE) staff now working in the sector. This marks a rise of 8,845 since 2016/17.
Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said: “It is clear funded ELC is making a real difference to families – particularly at a time when so many are struggling with the rising cost of living.
“Crucially, high quality ELC also helps to provide children with skills and confidence to carry into school education, and is a cornerstone for closing the poverty-related attainment gap.
“It’s also encouraging to see the workforce continue to grow and I’d like to thank everyone working in the sector for their continued hard work and dedication.”
Councillor Tony Buchanan, COSLA Children and Young People’s spokesperson said: “I’m pleased that today’s figures confirm that over 121,000 children are accessing additional funded early learning and childcare hours from Scotland’s Councils and their partners.
“The increased availability of funded early learning and childcare is allowing children more time to play and learn, and more opportunities for parents and carers to work, study or volunteer, as well as significant financial savings for families.
“I particularly welcome that there has been a 15% increase in the number of eligible two-year-olds accessing increased hours between April 2021 and April 2022, as we know this will provide support for children and families who will benefit most.”
New Tax-Free Childcare statistics from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have revealed that 29,110 families in Scotland received up to £2,000 towards the cost of their childcare during the 2021 to 2022 tax year, up from 20,330 in the previous year.
Tax-Free Childcare provides thousands of eligible working families with vital financial support towards the cost of their childcare with the government paying £240 million annually in top-up payments to families using the scheme.
For thousands of families who use Tax-Free Childcare, the money they save each month on their childcare costs is money that goes back into their pockets.
For every £8 paid into a Tax-Free Childcare online account, families will automatically receive an additional £2 in government top-up, and it is available for children aged up to 11, or 17 if the child has a disability.
Families receive up to £500 every three months, per child, or £1,000 if their child is disabled, helping towards the cost of before and after-school clubs, childminders and nurseries, holiday clubs and other approved childcare schemes.
But hundreds of thousands of families could be missing out, with recent research published by HMRC estimating that about 1.3 million families could be eligible for this government support. Parents and carers are being urged to check their eligibility and register for Tax-Free Childcare via GOV.UK.
Across the UK, 512,415 families used Tax-Free Childcare in the 2021 to 2022 tax year, compared to 374,135 in the 2020 to 2021 tax year.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Tax-Free Childcare can make a big difference to families, helping with the bills for things like nurseries, childminders and after school clubs. It’s easy to register – search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’ on GOV.UK.”
Helen Whately, HM Treasury’s Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: “It’s fantastic that more parents are taking up Tax-Free Childcare. This support provides a helping hand with childcare costs for working families.
“With over one million families eligible, I want to encourage parents to take advantage of Tax-Free Childcare and keep the extra pounds in their pocket.”
The latest monthly comparisons for Scotland also show that a record number of families were using their Tax-Free Childcare account in March 2022 – 22,710 families compared to 15,240 in March 2021 – an increase of 7,470 families.
The scheme offers a 20% government funded top-up on money deposited into Tax-Free Childcare accounts, which can be used to pay their childcare provider. Accounts can be opened at any time of the year and can be used straight away, and money can be deposited at any time and used when needed.
For example, if parents and carers have school-aged children and use holiday clubs during school holidays, they could deposit money into their accounts throughout the year. This means they could spread the cost of childcare while also benefitting from the 20% government top-up. Any unused money that is deposited can be simply withdrawn at any time.
Tax-Free Childcare is also available for pre-school aged children attending nurseries, childminders, or other childcare providers. Families with younger children will often have higher childcare costs than families with older children, so the tax-free savings can really make a difference.
Thousands of families are saving around £4,900 annually thanks to funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) from the Scottish Government.
The latest figures show that 111,574 children were in funded ELC places at the end of January 2022 – an increase of 20,684 (23%), since August 2021.
Of these, 88% (97,887 children) were taking advantage of the full offer of 1,140 hours of funded ELC a year. The total saving to families from the 1,140 hours offer is estimated to be £4,900 per child per annum.
Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said: “It’s fantastic to see so many families accessing funded ELC and making significant savings – particularly at a time when so many are struggling with cost of living increases.
“As well as saving families money, funded ELC brings real benefits for children. Providing access to free, high-quality early learning and childcare enriches children’s early years and provides them with skills and confidence for starting school and beyond. It also supports parents’ ability to work, train or study.”
The latest figures show that at the end of January 2022:
Every council had reported an increase between 6% and 26% in numbers of two to five-year-olds accessing funded ELC compared with August 2021
97% of those (108,678) were accessing more than 600 hours a year
20,684 more children were accessing 1,140 hours compared with August 2021
the number of three to five-year-olds in funded places increased by 23%
the number of two-year-olds in funded places rose from 5,966 to 6,913 – an increase of 16%
Legislation came into effect on 1 August 2021 to make the expanded offer of 1,140 hours available across Scotland. The offer is available to all three and four-year-olds and two-year-olds who need it most.
Families of more than 79,000 children are saving almost £5,000 per child annually, thanks to the Scottish Government’s expanded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) offer.
Since August, all three and four-year-olds and two-year-olds who need it most have been eligible for 1,140 hours of funded ELC.
Latest figures from the Improvement Service show that 90,890 children were accessing free ELC at the end of August 2021.
Of those, 97% (88,122) of children were accessing more than 600 hours and 87% (79,262) were accessing the full 1,140 hours offer.
All eligible families who applied were offered 1,140 hours.
Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said: “This week marks Challenge Poverty Week, and we know that childcare costs can place a real burden on families, so it is encouraging to see that thousands of families across the country are benefiting from our transformational expanded ELC offer.
“As well as saving families a significant amount of money, the 1,140 offer supports parents’ ability to work, train or study. We also know that high-quality Early Learning and Childcare helps to give children the best start in life, enriching their early years and giving them the confidence and skills they need to prepare them for school.”
COSLA Children and Young People’s Spokesperson Cllr Stephen McCabe said: “I warmly welcome the confirmation today that so many families are accessing the additional funded Early Learning and Childcare hours, which bring so many benefits to children, their parents and carers.
“The delivery of the expansion against the very challenging backdrop of the pandemic is a real testament to the hard work of councils and their partners.”
The Scottish Government has provided local authorities with £476 million over the last four years to refurbish, re-purpose and extend hundreds of existing nursery settings, as well as providing over 150 new facilities across Scotland.
