Scottish parents pay more for childcare

Childcare costs for over-fives are more expensive in Scotland than in England, research has revealed.
A survey by the Family and Childcare Trust and Children in Scotland showed that a Scottish after-school club cost an average £50.46 a week compared to £49.71 in England between December 2011 and December 2012.

The price gap for care provided by childminders after school was wider, with parents paying £79.63 in Scotland compared to £72.79 in England.

Nursery fees for under-fives were cheaper in Scotland than in England – an average £101.19 for 25 hours of care for under two-year-olds compared to £108.51 in England.

However, variation in prices between Scottish local authorities was much wider.

In Scotland, the average cost for 25 hours of care for a child under two was 80 per cent more costly in the most expensive authority than in the cheapest. In England the variation was 47 per cent.

The Family and Childcare Trust’s research manager Jill Rutter said Scotland’s lower population density and rural regions accounted for the disparity.

“It’s much more costly to deliver childcare nursery provision in sparsely populated rural regions such as the Highlands and Aberdeenshire,” said Rutter.

“They have a less-developed market and big fluctuations in occupancy rates.”

Rutter also highlighted that unlike in England, Scottish local authorities are not required to assess the level of childcare supply in their areas, which can drive up costs.

A survey undertaken by Children in Scotland in 2012 showed 40 per cent of local authorities in Scotland did not know if they had sufficient childcare for working parents.

Census data from 2011 showed there were 19.7 childcare places per 100 children aged up to 15 in Scotland compared to 24.4 places in England.

“There are real gaps in supply in some areas,” said Rutter.

Children in Scotland policy officer Jim Stephen said the increase in out-of-school care costs was particularly worrying as it is “accompanied by adverse economic pressures facing families today, such as wage stagnation, higher living costs and changes to welfare and benefits”.

He added: “On top of this, we have evidence that some local authorities lack detailed knowledge of supply, demand and gaps in services in their areas – though it should be seen as a step forward that local authorities are sharing this information with us and are being honest about where the gaps lie.”

The Family and Childcare Trust compiled the results using data submitted by 28 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities.