Exclusive:Almost half of Scots families say childcare provision is failing them
Families are calling on the Scottish government to improve wraps
Almost half of Scotland’s parents say childcare provision is failing their families, new figures show.
A survey by the umbrella body for parents’ groups, Connect, details the barriers faced by carers in finding adequate care in working hours.
The Connect report also shows a stark urban and rural divide with fewer than one in five parents in rural areas unable to find childcare.
As Scotland’s schools are poised to begin the long summer break, parents expressed frustration with the lack of wraparound provision.
Connect’s Executive Director, Gavin Yates, said the research outlines a “really difficult” situation for Scotland’s families.
“Almost half surveyed are not feeling their needs are being fully met and in rural areas that is a shocking one in five,” Mr Yates said.
“This is simply not good enough and causes endless worry for mums and dads, particularly during the school holidays.
“We recognise that there has been some national focus on childcare in recent years, but progress on school-aged childcare has not been fast enough.”
Some 42 percent of parents said that they were not able to access childcare to meet their families’ requirements all or some of the time.
This problem was compounded in rural areas where fewer than 20 percent of parents said their childcare needs were being met.
Some 73 per cent said they didn’t know of any free or subsidised out of school childcare, play schemes or activities provided by your local authority in the school holidays.
Mr Yates said the issue is not merely about inconvenience for working parents but the knock on economic effects.
He added: “This has a detrimental economic impact on both families and on the Scottish economy.
“Work is cited as the main reason for the use of childcare; for those parents who are unable to access the childcare they need, or who are entirely dependent on help from families and friends, much more must be done and at a faster pace.”
Responses from parents and carers in 24 local authorities show a significant proportion of respondents - 42 per cent - are not able to access childcare to meet their families’ needs all or some of the time.
While 41 per cent reported their childcare did meet their needs most of the time or somewhat, a clear picture of an urban-rural divide emerges, with only 19 per cent of rural respondents saying their needs were met, as opposed to 54 per cent of urban respondents.
One parent who responded to the survey said: “It would be great if rural schools had better access to out of school care available, seeing as people draw to rural areas for better quality of life, yet can only work hours within the school timeframe of 9 to 3, when average working day is 9 to 5.”
Another said: “Children with complex ASN, especially those aged over six, are woefully underserved at present.
“It makes it very difficult for parent/carers to even get a change of scene or meet with other adults.”
Connect is calling for equity of access to childcare across the country and a national policy focus on ‘wraparound care’ for those who need it.
The organisation also wants recognition of the role of informal childcare with more research into its impacts on care-givers and families.
They also call for a review of the Scottish Government’s School Aged Childcare Delivery Framework and faster progress with delivery of childcare.
Scottish Conservative Education and Equalities spokeswoman, Meghan Gallacher MSP said the findings should “shame” the SNP.
“After nearly two decades in government, almost half of Scotland’s parents are telling them their childcare system is failing them, and rural Scots have almost been abandoned altogether,” she said.
“Hard-working parents should not have to pay more, only to get less.”
Scottish Labour education spokeswoman Katherine Sangster added: “The SNP has had over a decade to address the challenges in childcare provision, but they have failed to take the action necessary, with parents and families left to deal with the consequences.
“Having access to appropriate childcare provision should not be a postcode lottery.
“Too many parents are being hit by rising childcare costs and are struggling to make ends meet.
“John Swinney made expensive promises to families across Scotland about expanding childcare whilst failing to fix the issues faced by parents now.
“He needs to deliver as parents and children cannot wait.”
Last week the Scottish government launched the Childcare Support Fund.
The fund is designed to help families who are struggling with childcare costs at difficult times such as a change in job or family circumstances.
Scotland is the only part of the UK to offer 1140 hours a year of funded ELC to all three- and four-year-olds, eligible two-year-olds and five-year-olds who have deferred primary school, however parents say this model does not work for their needs.
A Scottish government spokesman said: “While there are high levels of parent satisfaction with the current Early Learning and Childcare offer, we recognise the need for a childcare system to be better designed round the need of parents and carers.
“That’s why we will deliver a new wraparound childcare system for every child from nine months old to the end of primary school for 52 weeks a year by the end of this parliamentary session.”
He added the government understands the “unique challenges” of childcare in rural settings.
“That is why we held a Rural and Island Childcare Roundtable in March this year,” he added.
Mr Yates said: “Our parents are clear.
“Supporting families properly means equity of access to childcare, affordability, further research into, and a mapping of, existing provision to ensure families’ needs are met plus a revised national action plan.
“We also need to better understand informal childcare and its impact on care-givers.
“Finally, it is also crucial that parents’ views and experiences are sought and that these form the basis of national and local childcare delivery plans.”
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