Disparity in Funded Childcare for Two-Year-Olds Between Scotland and England

Fiona Asquith, her husband, and their two-year-old son, Euan, relocated to the Highlands from Yorkshire earlier this year. She reports that her current monthly childcare expenses are significantly higher, by hundreds of pounds, compared to what they would have been had they remained in England. In England, Fiona would be eligible for 15 hours of funded childcare weekly, thereby reducing the amount of additional care she would need to finance. Conversely, in Scotland, approximately 25% of two-year-olds currently meet the eligibility criteria, typically those from households with the lowest incomes. This discrepancy in childcare provisions results in Fiona and her husband incurring an additional cost of approximately £300 per month compared to if they had remained in Yorkshire. The financial gap is projected to widen further next year when the UK government expands funded hours in England to 30. In Scotland, children aged three and above receive 30 hours of complimentary weekly childcare during term time, irrespective of their parents’ employment status. Nevertheless, the SNP’s 2021 manifesto pledged to extend free early years childcare to all one and two-year-olds. Presently, this provision is limited to two-year-olds whose parents are recipients of specific benefits or have prior experience of care. Fiona, residing in Alness in Easter Ross, conveyed to BBC Scotland News: “I feel like there should be an incentive for parents to go back to work and contribute to the economy, as well as for their own wellbeing.” She added, “But for some people the books won’t balance.” She stated that she must cover the cost of two and a half days of childcare for Euan, with her mother providing assistance for an additional half-day. “We currently pay about £600 a month for childcare, but if we had stayed where we were living in England we would be paying about £300 at this point,” she commented. She further noted, “And we’d be saving a further £200-£300 in March.” Consequently, the couple indicated their decision that they are presently unable to afford a second child. Starting in September, the UK government initiated the provision of 15 hours of funded childcare for eligible working parents in England with a child older than nine months, a new policy. This provision is set to expand to 30 hours beginning next year. Over 8,000 individuals have endorsed a petition urging the Scottish government to align its provisions with those in England, where approximately 70% of two-year-olds are eligible for free care. A spokesperson for the Scottish government affirmed: “Scotland is the only part of the UK to already offer 1,140 hours a year of funded early learning childcare to all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds regardless of their parents’ working status.” They also stated that the Scottish government allocated £16 million over a two-year period to six “early adopter communities” throughout Scotland, with the objective of fostering equality instead of giving precedence to children whose parents are employed. Among the projects receiving funding from this scheme is one located in Barmulloch, Glasgow. Attending the centre incurs no cost for a child, and some attendees are under one year old; however, it does not function as a traditional nursery where parents can leave their toddlers while they are at work. Fiona Carmichael, head of services at Early Years Scotland, the organization managing the project, explained: “This isn’t a traditional nursery drop-and-go service.” She added, “At the very heart of it is family wellbeing.” She elaborated: “We allow parents an hour and a half of wellbeing time so they are able to go away and do something like English classes or use the computing room for IT skills or CV-building.” “Our staff are here to help people fill in things like nursery forms or help people sign up for housing benefit or other entitlements,” she continued. The assistance provided by the project can also contribute to family budgets through alternative means. “We frequently hear that the cost of childcare is at times really not manageable for families,” Ms Carmichael stated. She further noted, “Even when we provide a breakfast and a lunch for some families, it gives a bit of help to their week.” Gillian is among the parents participating in the Barmulloch project. She adjusted her work schedule to enable her to attend the project three times weekly with her son Frankie, while his father is hospitalized for cancer treatment. “It’s not just for Frankie, it’s for myself,” she remarked. “I’ve met lots of people who I meet outside as well, on the days when we’re not here. “It’s that relationship for mums as well as for the kids,” she added. Gillian mentioned that the centre offers parents “a bit of a breather.” “Everyone can join in so it makes me less isolated,” she commented. “It gives us a bit of normality,” she concluded. Charitable organizations assert that insufficient childcare remains the primary obstacle for individuals, especially new mothers, seeking to re-enter the workforce. However, Carole Erskine of the charity Pregnant Then Screwed stated that Scotland lacks adequate places, personnel, or training to broaden childcare provisions. She warned that committing to additional funded hours without the necessary resources risks destabilizing the entire system. Ms. Erskine advised that comparisons with England’s investment in childcare should be approached with prudence. Prior to the scheme’s implementation in England, research conducted by the charity revealed that nearly a quarter (23%) of parents reported an inability to afford access to free childcare hours due to mandatory top-up fees for items such as meals, nappies, sun cream, or excursions. “That money has gone to the private sector but in many occasions it hasn’t been enough,” Ms. Erskine observed. She continued, “While to a lot of parents in Scotland funded childcare from nine months sounds amazing, the reality on the ground is that parents aren’t often seeing the benefit when it comes to saving them money.” Dr. Steffi Keir, a policy adviser for Save the Children, noted that the variations in childcare provision between Scotland and England can also cause confusion for parents, and that access is not consistently straightforward, irrespective of age limits. She stated that a positive aspect of the Scottish system is its provision of choice for families. “We know that good quality early learning and childcare is what actually improves outcomes for children and that needs to be baked into any decisions around childcare,” she asserted. Dr. Keir explained that the UK government’s investment in childcare will result in the Scottish government receiving an additional £320 million through the Barnett formula, and the decision on how to allocate these funds rests with them. “There is absolutely no obligation to spend this money on childcare,” she clarified. “The first minister says there’s a razor sharp focus on reducing child poverty. “One thing they could consider doing is to increase the Scottish Child Payment because that means money going directly into the pockets of families who are struggling to make ends meet,” she suggested. The following outlines childcare provisions across the UK: **Scotland** **England** Working parents can get: Those on certain benefits can already get: **Wales** * Some parents are eligible for 12.5 hours of free weekly childcare for two-year-olds under the Flying Start Scheme, which is currently limited to specific local authority areas but is undergoing expansion. * Up to 30 hours of free weekly childcare is available for three and four-year-olds through the childcare offer for Wales. This 30-hour provision comprises 10 hours of early education per week and a maximum of 20 hours of childcare for working parents, contingent on salary and benefits. **Northern Ireland** * The Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme provides a 15% childcare subsidy, in addition to the 20% granted by the UK government, with both subsidies subject to caps. * All parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for a minimum of 12.5 hours of funded preschool education per week during term time. 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