Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) – parents' views and use: research findings 2025
This report outlines findings from research with parents and carers on early learning and childcare (ELC) in Scotland in 2025. This research is part of a wider evaluation of the expansion of funded ELC to 1140 hours.
Appendix B: Participant demographics
Survey participants compared with the population
A total of 7,589 valid responses were received from the online survey.
The survey findings are discussed in relation to three age groups: three-five-year-olds, two-year-olds, and under-two-year-olds to reflect variations in eligibility for funded ELC[41].
Most households who participated in the survey had a child aged between three and five years old (83%). Around a quarter (23%) of households had a child under two years old and 17% had a 2-year-old child.
| Proportion of children in funded ELC | Survey respondents | Scottish Population[42] |
|---|---|---|
| 2-year-olds | 19% | 13% |
| 3–5-year-olds | 95% | 95% |
| Urban rural classification[43] | Survey respondents | Scottish Population |
|---|---|---|
| Large urban areas | 25% | 38% |
| Other urban areas | 39% | 34% |
| Accessible small towns | 9% | 9% |
| Remote small towns | 4% | 3% |
| Accessible rural areas | 16% | 12% |
| Remote rural areas | 8% | 6% |
| Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation | Survey respondents | Scottish Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - Most deprived | 20% | 20% |
| 2 | 19% | 20% |
| 3 | 20% | 20% |
| 4 | 24% | 20% |
| 5 - Least deprived | 17% | 20% |
Survey participants: Key characteristics
The following tables (B4-B15) provide the demographics and key profile data on the participating sample.
| Which best describes their household | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| Single-parent/carer household | 13% |
| Two parent/carer household | 85% |
| Other | 1% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% |
| Unweighted base | 7,066 |
| Number of parents or carers in employment / earners | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| 0 earners | 5% |
| 1 earner | 17% |
| 2 earners | 74% |
| Other | 3% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% |
| Unweighted base | 6,992 |
| Total household income per year before tax | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| Less than £16,000 (up to £1,332 per month) | 9% |
| £16,000 to £29,999 (between £1,333 and £2,499 per month) | 16% |
| £30,000 to £44,999 (between £2,500 and £3,749 per month) | 17% |
| £45,000 to £59,999 (between £3,750 and £4,999 per month) | 19% |
| £60,000 and over (£5,000 per month or over) | 29% |
| Prefer not to say | 9% |
| Unweighted base | 7,027 |
| Age of responding parent (banded) | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| Under 25 | 2% |
| 25-29 | 14% |
| 30-34 | 30% |
| 35-39 | 34% |
| 40+ | 20% |
| Unweighted base | 7,018 |
| SIMD 20% most deprived and other (binary) | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| 20% most deprived | 20% |
| Other | 80% |
| Unweighted base | 6,453 |
Base: All respondents who provided a home postcode. SIMD was derived from the parent/carer’s home postcode which was provided in the survey
| SIMD quintiles | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| 1 - Most deprived | 20% |
| 2 | 19% |
| 3 | 20% |
| 4 | 24% |
| 5 - least deprived | 17% |
| Unweighted base | 6,453 |
Base: All respondents who provided a home postcode. SIMD was derived from the parent/carer’s home postcode which was provided in the survey
| Is English an additional language for any parent or carer in the household? | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| Yes | 15% |
| No | 84% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% |
| Unweighted base | 6,985 |
| Number of children aged under 18 in the household | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| 1 | 44% |
| 2 | 42% |
| 3 or more | 14% |
| Unweighted base | 7,589 |
| Whether respondent has a long-standing condition and how much it impacts their capacity if so | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| Yes, reduces capacity a lot | 4% |
| Yes, reduces capacity a little | 7% |
| Yes, but does not reduce capacity | 3% |
| No | 82% |
| Prefer not to say | 4% |
| Unweighted base | 6921 |
Not applicable = respondent did not make it to this point in the survey or stopped at this question
| Any children under 6 years old with Additional Support Needs | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| No | 83% |
| Yes | 17% |
| Don’t know | 0% |
| Prefer not to answer | 0% |
| Unweighted base | 7,589 |
| Urban / Rural 2-fold 2020 classification (derived from 6-fold matched to home postcode) | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| Accessible | 89% |
| Remote | 11% |
| Unweighted base | 6,453 |
Base: All respondents who provided a home postcode. Urban/Rural 2-fold grouping was derived from the parent/carer’s home postcode which was provided in the survey
| Urban / Rural 6-fold matched to home postcode | Proportion of survey respondents |
|---|---|
| Large urban areas | 25% |
| Other urban areas | 39% |
| Accessible small towns | 9% |
| Remote small towns | 4% |
| Accessible rural areas | 16% |
| Remote rural areas | 8% |
| Unweighted base | 6,453 |
Base: All respondents who provided a home postcode. Urban/Rural 6-fold grouping was derived from the parent/carer’s home postcode which was provided in the survey
The key characteristics of those who took part in the survey in 2025 and 2022 are broadly similar. There were relatively small differences such as:
- The proportion reporting that any of children had Additional Support Needs (ASN) which was 14% in 2022 and 17% in 2025. Apparent differences may be, at least in part, due to increased education around and recognition of ASN during this time.
- Those with English as and additional language which was 18% in 2022 and 15% in 2025.
Qualitative participants
To ensure that a breadth of experience was represented in the qualitative research, parents were purposively sampled from the survey to recruit a diverse range of participants in terms of: household composition; parental disability; ethnicity; use of funded and paid-for childcare; childcare type; SIMD; and area of residence. As part of the research, the Scottish Government also identified specific groups of interest, including a mix of parents with children aged two and three to five, children with ASN and varied use of funded ELC entitlement. The experience of parents with children with ASN and those who were dissatisfied with the flexibility of ELC was of particular interest to the Scottish Government. These groups were, therefore, a particular focus for the purposive sampling.
Thirty-three parents and carers took part in an interview about their experiences and views of funded ELC. Participants lived in a range of locations across Scotland, in both urban and rural areas. Fifteen participants lived in an area of Scotland classed as remote or rural.
Nearly half (n=16) of qualitative participants lived in the 40% most deprived areas of Scotland. Seven participants were from a minority ethnic background and 26 were from a white ethnic background, which included participants who were not British or Scottish.
Most participants (n=24) lived in a two-parent household. Nearly a quarter (n=8) of participants reported that they had a long-term health condition. The majority (n=27) of participants had at least one child aged three to five, and less than half (n=13) had a child aged two. Eight participants had three or more children in their household.
Reflecting the interest of the Scottish Government, 26 participants had at least one child with ASN.
Other key groups of interest were families that did not use any funded ELC (n=6) and families that did not use their full entitlement of funded ELC. Twelve participants did not use their full entitlement, nine of which had a child with ASN. Some qualitative participants who used their full entitlement of funded ELC for one of their children but not for another. Over a quarter (n=9) of the participants reported paying for childcare, four of which reported that they found it difficult to afford.
| Household composition | Interview participants |
|---|---|
| Single-parent/carer household | 9 |
| Two parent/carer household | 24 |
| Household size | Interview participants |
| Three or more children | 8 |
| One or two children | 25 |
| Child age | Interview participants* |
| 2-year-olds | 13 |
| 3–5-year-olds | 27 |
| Use of funded ELC | Interview participants** |
| Using full entitlement of funded ELC | 20 |
| Not using full entitlement of funded ELC | 12 |
| Not using funded ELC | 6 |
| Households with a child(ren) with ASN | Interview participants |
| Child with ASN | 26 |
| Child without ASN | 7 |
| Types of ASN | Interview participants*** |
| Autism | 10 |
| Child with ESL | 7 |
| Social, emotional, behavioural difficulties | 10 |
| Learning disabilities | 3 |
| Multiple ASN | 20 |
| Satisfaction with funded ELC meeting child’s ASN | Interview participants |
| Satisfied with ASN | 14 |
| Dissatisfied with ASN/Don’t know | 12 |
| Satisfaction with the flexibility of funded ELC | Interview participants |
| Satisfied with flexibility | 18 |
| Dissatisfied with flexibility | 12 |
| Not using funded ELC | 3 |
| Ethnicity | Interview participants |
| Minority ethnic | 7 |
| White | 26 |
| Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation | Interview participants |
| SIMD 1 and 2 | 16 |
| SIMD 3, 4 and 5 | 17 |
| Urban rural classification | Interview participants |
| Remote/rural | 15 |
| Urban | 18 |
| Health condition | Interview participants |
| Parent with long-term health condition | 8 |
| Parent without long-term health condition | 25 |
| Gender | Interview participants |
| Female | 31 |
| Male | 2 |
| Age | Interview participants |
| Under 25 | 1 |
| 25-29 | 6 |
| 30-34 | 11 |
| 35-39 | 11 |
| 40+ | 4 |
* Some participants had both children aged two and three to five, so numbers will not add up to 33
** Some participants had both children aged 2 and 3-5 and a mixture of full and partial use of funded ELC for different ages so numbers will not add up to 33.
*** Some participants had multiple children with ASN or children with more than one type of ASN, so numbers will not add up to 33.
Contact
Email: socialresearch@gov.scot