Far north mother’s plea over government childcare failings heard in Holyrood, sparking regulation call
The plea by a far north mother struggling to find access to government funded childcare has left her feeling that she “just can’t and won’t do it anymore” has been raised in Holyrood.
The Scottish Government funds 1140 hours of childcare for three-and four-year-olds and some eligible two-year-olds. In May, it announced it wanted to expand that provision.
But that was slammed by critics who said some people have trouble accessing the current scheme
The picture in the Highlands is more complicated by the fact that much of rural Scotland relies on smaller private providers but there are ongoing disputes about rates.
Disputes persist between Highland Council and providers over how much they latter are paid under the 1140 hours scheme, some claim that it is insufficient.
Now a far north MSP has intervened to represent a constituent who came to him with her concerns regarding accessing childcare in the north.
Speaking in Holyrood, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP David Green said: “’Extremely limited childcare during term time, nothing at all during the holidays, no childcare whatsoever for children under the age of two, and I just can’t and won’t do it anymore’.
“That’s how one constituent described the state of childcare to me.
“Between 2025 and 2026, the number of three-and four-year-olds accessing early learning and childcare funding in Highland increased by 8%, while available childminders fell by more than a fifth.
“A recent report by the Highland Community Planning Partnership found that national childcare frameworks often fail to reflect rural realities.”
He asked the Minister for Children and Young People Siobhian Brown: “What steps will the Government therefore take to ensure regulations are fit for purpose?
She responded: “I think the rollout for our 1140 for all three and four-year-olds is being taken up 96% universally across the whole of Scotland and it was very welcome when it was introduced in 2021.
“But the Scottish government are listening, and we know that there are challenges especially in rural areas and this is why we have made the commitment to rollout childcare from nine months to the end of primary school by the end of this parliamentary term.
“But in speaking to nurseries, childminders and the ELC sector they don’t want this to happen quickly because we have to do it right. So I will be engaging with them and we will be rolling it out through this parliamentary term.”
Follow the exchanges, David Green said:
“The 1140 hours of Early Learning and Childcare is a keynote SNP policy but it isn’t delivering for too many parents, their children and for those working in childcare too.
“If we want young families to live and work in our communities, we must ensure childcare is accessible, flexible and available close to home. I believe that can and must change.
“I therefore welcome the minister’s commitment to listen to rural communities, but that must be followed by regulations that reflect the needs of rural Scotland, not just the central belt.”