Date: 12/01/2026

Today, we are launching our Manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election: a clear, urgent call for political action on childcare in Scotland.

Childcare is broken. Parents are paying to work, being pushed out of jobs, and facing a growing postcode lottery that determines when, or if, they can access the funded childcare they were promised. We know that more than four in five parents say childcare costs are the same as, or higher than, their income. This is not sustainable, and it cannot continue.

Our Manifesto sets out three practical, deliverable policy asks that would transform childcare for families, strengthen the economy, and support parents, particularly mothers, to stay in work.

Our asks are as follows:

Expand funded entitlements to children from 9 months old: funded childcare from nine months old, with a fair 5% cap on costs above funded hours, linked to household income. You can read more about Scotland’s Childcare Guarantee here.

Introduce a household 5% childcare cost cap: Meaning any hours purchased above funded entitlements would be capped at 5% of household income, and would never cost any more than that. A fair and progressive system that works for all.

Protect funded hours by changing national guidance: We are also calling for an end to the creeping rollback of funded hours by ensuring children are funded the Monday after a child turns three years old and not months later, depending on where they live.

Carole Erskine, our Head of Policy and Campaigns said:

“Parents are at breaking point due to the immense pressure they’re under from soaring childcare costs and inadequate funding.  This isn’t just an issue for families; it has a far-reaching impact on the economy.   While the introduction of 1140 funded hours in 2021 was a welcome step in the right direction, it didn’t go far enough.  It is confusing and leaves many still unable to afford childcare.  

“On top of that, we’re now seeing a postcode lottery in access to funding, as a wave of local authorities have changed the date parents are entitled to it.  This is creating a melting pot for families, pushing them into debt and forcing parents, primarily mothers, out of the workforce. Scotland’s childcare system is not just broken on paper: it is breaking families in real time. It’s time to stop trying to patch things up and start again from scratch, and we’re providing a simple and workable plan to do that.”  

With the election approaching, political parties have a clear choice: continue to ignore parents, or commit to fixing a system that is failing families across Scotland. Our Manifesto shows what is possible, and what parents urgently need next.

👉 Read the full Manifesto here.

👉View the full press release here.

If you want to find out more about our policy work, please contact Carole Erskine, Head of Policy and Campaigns (Scotland) at [email protected]

For press enquiries, please contact [email protected]