Early learning and childcare

Early learning and childcare is devolved and the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament. Prior to 2021, 3 to 5 year olds were given 600 hours of funded childcare. This was given a radical overhaul when the number of funded hours increased to 1,140 over the course of a year – around 30 hours a week in term-time. Some 2 year olds are also eligible to access these hours if their parents are in receipt of certain benefits, and for those in the care system. 

The policy is delivered by local authorities and in order to meet demand, councils work in partnership with nurseries and childminders across the private and third sector. This policy has been broadly supported but the delivery has brought a host of problems and many say the sector is on its knees

The need for our work

Pregnancy / maternity discrimination affects three in four pregnant women and mothers (73%) in Scotland (EHRC Research, 2016), with one in ten (9%) being forced out of their job. Almost half of mothers reported a negative impact on opportunity, status or job security (46%), whilst 40% reported a risk or impact to their health or welfare. Only 1% raised a tribunal claim: given the cost, the short time limit and the practical/emotional challenges of launching legal action whilst caring for a new baby and looking for a new job. This is a key contributor to the 12.2% gender pay gap in Scotland (ONS, 2020). 

 

The number of mothers who experience discrimination has rapidly increased due to the cost of living crisis. We have seen a 68% increase in calls about redundancy and a 28% increase in calls regarding declined flexible working requests in the last 6 months. Pregnant women and mothers are often the first to be pushed out when a business is making cuts or bracing for a difficult working environment. We also know that when times are tough, employers tend to revert to more conventional ways of working, which has a negative impact on progress for women.

Devolved v Reserved
Benefits

Responsibility for social security benefits for children are split between the Scottish and UK Parliaments. Universal Credit is handled at Westminster but the Scottish Parliament delivers the Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment, Best Start Grant School Age Payment, Best Start Foods, Scottish Child Payment and Child Disability Payment. All of these are paid to those who receive certain benefits or the household income is below a set amount. 

The Scottish Child Payment was introduced in February 2021 with the intention of delivering a benefit for low-income families with children under 6 years old. The weekly payment has increased to £25 and extended to include anyone under 16. It is paid in addition to Child Benefit and is one measure the Scottish Government is using to try and reduce relative child poverty.

Maternity and paternity leave and Childcare Issues

Maternity and paternity leave

Maternity and paternity leave and pay are reserved and the responsibility of Westminster. Scotland is, therefore, no different to the rest of the UK in how much new mums and dads receive as a statutory entitlement.

 

Childcare issues

The major issue for many families in Scotland, and across the UK, is the accessibility and affordability of childcare. The increase in funded hours has been hugely beneficial to many parents but there still remains huge issues over costs, particularly for under 3s, and there is a growing problem with accessibility. When the expansion of funded hours came into effect, many staff at private and third sector nurseries moved to local authority settings as they offered better pay and conditions. This has resulted in many private and third sector nurseries unable to recruit and retain staff, which has then led to a number of popular and well-rated nurseries closing down. This has left parents with the stressful and fraught task of trying to find new childcare in a shrinking sector. The pay differences between those in the public sector and the private and third sector is also deeply unfair. Workers in both settings are required to be inspected in the same way, and accessed on the quality of childcare they offer but the pay differential can be huge.

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