Scottish Household Survey 2025 Childcare

Use of funded childcare

As highlighted above, three and four year olds, and some two year olds, are entitled to ELC that is funded by the Scottish Government. The statutory entitlement begins the term after the child’s third birthday, although some local authorities will start provision from the date the child turns three. Two year olds are eligible for funded ELC if they meet certain criteria and they remain eligible even if circumstances change and they no longer meet the two year old eligibility criteria. In September 2025, it was estimated that around a quarter of two year olds were eligible for funded ELC. Some children may also receive funded ELC at the local authority’s discretion. Funded ELC reported on here is a combination of both types. From August 2021, the statutory entitlement has been 1,140 hours per year. Prior to this children were entitled to 600 hours per year, but may have been offered or provided with more at the discretion of the local authority. The increase to 1,140 hours was due to occur in August 2020 but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, many local authorities rolled out the expanded provision as planned so may have been offering the full entitlement prior to August 2021.

Overall, 58% of households stated that their child was entitled to funded ELC, but this varied greatly by age. 88% of households with a four or five year old stated that their child was entitled to funded ELC, with 9% stating that the child was not eligible and 2% stating that they did not know whether their child was eligible. 77% of households with a three year old stated that their child was eligible, with 19% stating that the child was not and 4% stating that they did not know. 16% of households with a two year old stated that their child was eligible for funded ELC, while 77% said that the child was not and 7% said that they did not know. Overall, 4% of households stated that they did not know whether their child was eligible (Table 19).

Of those households who stated that their child was entitled to funded ELC, 85% said that they received it during term time (Table 20) and 89% said that they received it during the school holidays (Table 26). During term time, 58% of households that used their funded ELC said that they used between 21 and 30 hours per week, with a further 25% using 11 to 20 hours per week (Table 22). During the school holidays, 44% of households said that they used between 21 and 30 hours per week. A further 30% used between 11 and 20 hours per week (Table 27).

Hours of funded ELC used across the full year are estimated by multiplying hours used per week in term time and hours used per week in school holidays by the number of weeks of each per year. This assumes that the household uses their funded ELC consistently throughout term time and school holidays. Where households do not use funded childcare consistently, or their use of funded ELC changes through the year, this may result in their annual use being over or underestimated. These figures should therefore be used with caution.

Across the full year, 49% of households were estimated to have used the full entitlement to 1,140 hours, with 40% using less than this. 10% did not know how many hours they used annually (Table 25).