A new survey has shown 12% of households in Scotland found it difficult to afford childcare, with 7% finding it very difficult.
The Scottish Household Survey 2025 on Childcare, published by the Scottish Government, asked households with at least one child aged up to and including 11 years old how easy or difficult they found it to afford childcare.
Almost half, 47%, said that they found it easy or very easy to afford. However, 12% said that they found it difficult and a further 7% said they found it very difficult to afford childcare.
The results show that 83% of households with a two to five-year-old child who is not yet at school used at least one form of childcare – with 62% of households with a child aged two to five years stating that all childcare used was either free, or funded by the local authority or Scottish Government.
The most common reason, at 68%, given for using childcare for a child aged two to five years old was so that parents or carers can work.
Some 34% of households said it was for the child’s social development, and 29% for the child’s learning and language development.
The study shows the proportion of households stating they used childcare so that parents or carers could work varied by area deprivation – as 50% of households in the 20% most deprived areas gave this reason for using childcare. This increased to 71% in the 20% least deprived areas.
For the first time, the report also included data on use of after-school clubs and breakfast clubs for households with at least one child aged zero to 11 years old.
In households where at least one child was at school, 28% used after-school clubs and 20% used breakfast clubs.
The most common forms of childcare used were local authority nurseries and private nurseries, used by 43% and 27% of households respectively.
Around 4% of households used childminders, a decrease from 10% in 2018.
Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise Siobhian Brown said: “High-quality childcare plays an important role in reducing inequalities, tackling child poverty and supporting economic opportunities for parents. I’m encouraged by results of the Scottish Household Survey Childcare report showing that 92% of households receiving funded ELC were satisfied with the quality of provision.
“The report highlights both the positives of our current offer, and the challenges families still face with affordability of childcare. Our current offer already delivers many benefits, and it is now time to take steps to put in place broader childcare support from 9 months to the end of primary school – making it easier for parents to get to work and secure the support they need during school holidays.
“Next year, we’ll publish and consult on a blueprint for transformed childcare, including the roll out of free breakfast clubs for children in primary school across Scotland from August 2027 and afterschool and holiday childcare from August 2029.”