What steps it is taking to improve childcare services in rural and island Scotland, particularly in smaller communities.

The Scottish Government recognises how vital childcare and family support services are in rural and island areas, both in relation to giving children the best start in life and supporting families to work. We also understand that childcare and wider wraparound provision can look different in rural and island communities, where geography, population density and travel distances can create particular delivery challenges.The Scottish Government worked with key partners to convene a roundtable event on 25 March 2026, that sought to gather learning from across communities, sectors, regulators and government to identify practical actions to help increase the accessibility and sustainability of childcare provision across rural areas. This roundtable event helped enhance the learning we continue to gather through our Early Adopter Communities, Access to Childcare Fund projects, and Extra Time Programme on identifying models of delivery that support access to childcare in our rural and island communities.Recently, the Scottish Government has also committed to introducing a universally accessible breakfast club offer in primary schools across Scotland by August 2027, and announced investment of a further £2.5 million to expand free after-school activity clubs. This funding will help us understand how activities and regulated childcare services can work together to improve access to after-school childcare, including in rural and island areas.The Scottish Government has committed to expanding childcare support to children from nine months through to the end of primary school over the course of this Parliament. As this work progresses, we will take into account the needs of families across Scotland, and decisions will be informed by learning gathered through the delivery of our projects and programmes, and direct engagement with rural and island stakeholders.