Continued Petitions

PE2112, which was lodged by Carole Erskine on behalf of Pregnant Then Screwed, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to commission an independent review of publicly funded early learning and childcare in Scotland in order to better understand and address the challenges that families face when trying to secure and afford childcare.We previously considered the petition on 10 September 2025, when we agreed to write to the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise. The Scottish Government previously stated that it was not planning to commission an external review and that ministers were using a number of sources of information regarding childcare costs for families, such as the Scottish household survey, as well as other independent reports on the availability and affordability of childcare, such as the Coram childcare survey.The Government noted that it would also be informed by the evaluation report of its 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare offer. In response to our question about when that report will be published, the minister indicates that the expectation is for early 2026. The minister suggests that the Government will draw conclusions about the impact of ELC expansion only once the full report has been published.We asked what preliminary conclusions the Scottish Government has drawn from the early adopter communities work and what actions it will take based on that. The minister explains that the initial evaluation, which was published in October 2024, found that, overall, families were positive about their experience.There was evidence that activities met children’s needs and that provision was appropriate to the needs of parents and carers, including in terms of covering working hours. The minister states that a second phase of evaluation, covering spring 2025 to summer 2026, is planned for publication in the second half of this year.I gather that Meghan Gallacher is here to observe the discussion on the petition. We have a little time in hand, if she wants to step forward and say anything to the committee.

I did not believe that I would make it to the session this morning; I am delighted that I have been able to do so. Thank you for giving me a moment to speak.This is a really important petition, which has been lodged by Pregnant Then Screwed, on the overall childcare provision offering. I respect the response that the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise gave, but the sad reality is that many parents across Scotland are not receiving the provision that 1,140 hours is deemed to include. For example, in my local authority area—North Lanarkshire—children do not usually receive the 1,140-hour provision until the term after the one in which they turned three. That goes against the principle of there being free childcare provision from when a child turns three years old.There are also issues in relation to capacity. Sometimes, parents are not able to receive childcare close to home. They do not receive their first, second or third option and are sent to other nurseries that might not be suitable for their needs or their working hours.There are issues with the childcare provision roll-out as a whole. There are issues with the private rented sector, which does not feel like an equal partner when councils decide what is best to do with childcare provision funding. That is why we need a review. We cannot wait until the Parliament rises in March; something needs to be brought forward now.I am delighted that groups such as Pregnant Then Screwed are working hard to press the Government to better childcare provision in Scotland. However, until the review is started, there is a need to keep holding the Government’s feet to the fire. I do not believe that the Government should be able to get away with this. We have had free childcare provision in Scotland for some time. It is the right moment to find out whether that is working for parents or whether substantial changes need to be made to make the childcare provision better.

I take all that into account. The issue might be best served by a fresh petition in the next parliamentary session, simply because the Government has set a timeline to summer 2026 in relation to the publication of certain actions. It seems to be an issue that we would want to explore properly in the next session. Does Maurice Golden have any suggestions for how we might proceed in relation to the petition?

The issue is that there is polka dot provision of childcare across Scotland. In some areas, it works very well; in other areas, although provision is there, it might not balance with the needs of the parent or parents and their work schedule. That is incredibly problematic.I have a lot of concern about the provision but, by the same token, I think that the petitioner would be best served by lodging a new petition after the evaluation report has been produced.

So we are minded to close the petition on the basis that the Government said that it would not commission an independent review. However, after the Government’s evaluation is published, there could be the opportunity for a completely fresh petition to take the position forward. I urge the petitioner to consider that in the next session, and I hope that Meghan Gallacher will be able to discuss that route forward with the petitioner, too.

I certainly will.I realise that I had my housing hat on—I referred to the private rented sector when I meant the private, voluntary and independent sector.

Okay. Are members content to close the petition on that basis?Members indicated agreement.