Scots parents paying nearly DOUBLE for childcare compared to those in England, survey reveals

Scottish Sun

26-04-2025

Part-time childcare costs for under-threes have risen by seven per cent year-on-year in Scotland
CHILD'S PAY Scots parents paying nearly DOUBLE for childcare compared to those in England, survey reveals
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SCOTS parents are paying nearly double as much to put their young children in nurseries compared to those in England, a survey has revealed.
First Minister John Swinney claimed on Friday that Scotland had 'the most extensive early learning and childcare offer in the UK'.
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A recent survey by childcare charity Coram revealed that childcare costs in Scotland are rising compared to plummeting rates in England
Credit: PA
However, a recent survey by childcare charity Coram, revealed that childcare costs in Scotland are rising compared to plummeting rates in England.
Three to five-year-olds can get up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare a year north of the border.
But the Scottish government only funds children under three if their parents are on benefits or they are looked after by someone outside their immediate family.
Part-time childcare costs for under-threes have risen by seven per cent year-on-year in Scotland, The Times reports.
But the rates have more than halved in England after free childcare was increased in September to 15 hours for all children over nine months.
Coram revealed Scots parents pay £120 a week for 25 hours of care for under-threes compared to around £70 in England.
Scottish parents also spend £73 a week compared to £66 in England.
A Coram spokesperson said: 'After new entitlements for working families are taken into account, the cost of a part-time childcare place has more than halved for parents of younger children in England, and the cost of a full-time place has reduced by more than 20 per cent.
'The increase in costs for three-to four-year-olds, and the picture for all age groups in Scotland and Wales, act as a barometer for how different the picture might have been for English working families this year without this support.'
A petition to fund childcare from nine months old was started by the Scottish Women's Budget Group and it gathered more than 9,000 signatures.
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Petitioner Julie Fraser said: 'The SNP website has an extremely vague description of their plans for extending funding, but there are no dates or details on what their plans are.
'In England, funding has become available for working families with children aged from nine months old. We are asking them to take swift, decisive action and to implement the same policy.'
The Scottish government told Holyrood's public petitions committee it has made 'difficult choices' to restrict free childcare to three and four-year-olds.
Free childcare for under-threes is being trialled in neighbourhoods around Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Fife and Shetland.
But there has been no indication from the government when it will be rolled out nationwide.
In a recent letter to the committee, the government said: 'Scotland remains the only part of the UK that already offers 1,140 hours per year of funded early learning and childcare to all three and four-year-olds and around a quarter of two-year-olds regardless of whether their parents are working or not, because we are committed to promoting equality for all of Scotland's children, putting their interests first.'