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Childcare Not Good Enough to Suit Working Scottish Families

A new study has found that one in six councils do not have the capacity to meet the needs of working families.

The report which comes from the Family and Childcare Trust said 15% of local authorities in Scotland had enough childcare for parents who worked full-time. The research worryingly showed an 8% decrease in the number of councils that stated they could meet the needs of working families, with 23% believing they had the resources in 2013.

Government Policy

The Scottish government currently have a statutory duty to offer and provide 600 free hours of childcare for children between the age of three and four, with the latest amendment to the policy making it compulsory for councils to be more flexible and offer more choice to parents who are working in order to meet their needs.

Research from the Family and Childcare Trust has shown however that for many families it is not an option due to the limiting offers from the council. Despite this, many councils felt that the care they offered was adequate for working families and was appropriate to their needs.

“Sufficiency Far More Acute

Lead researcher Jill Rutter said: "The sufficiency issue is far more acute in Scotland than it is in England.

"It is partly because Scotland has a far higher proportion of inflexible public sector provision.

"It is also more difficult to deliver childcare in sparsely populated rural areas and deprived urban areas.

"In England there have been a number of initiatives to deliver more flexibility for working parents."

Although many of the political pledges had stated that they would make a vast difference, the research from the organisation has found that for many, it is simply not enough.

Extended Funding

The Scottish Government has already agreed to extend the funding of free care for as many hours,

The Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon said: "We already deliver 16 hours a week of free childcare for all three and four years old.

"From August next year, that entitlement will extend to 27% of two-year-olds as well. That is more hours of childcare than in any other part of the UK, and we should be proud of that.

"But so important is good quality, extensive childcare to the school performance and life chances of young people, that we will go further still."

The First Minister’s party also pledged that they would be looking to extend the amount of free care offered to children.

Increased Cost

On top of the failed targets regarding childcare, the report from the Family and Childcare Trust found that many of the private childcare were raising their prices. Indeed, many working class families had to pay for childcare due to their inability to obtain any free child services. The survey found that on average, childcare in Scotland rose by 4%, with the cost of childcare being around £6,000 a year.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The cost of childcare can be a real challenge for families. That's why we have committed £329m to expand free early learning and childcare for three and four-year-olds by almost half to 600 hours.

"We have also targeted the most vulnerable and hard-pressed families of two-year-olds and given them access to free nursery places for the first time."

Contact Us

If you require legal advice regarding childcare or any aspect of family law, or if you require legal advice for your child, contact us today using our online contact form.

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