Reimagining Childcare in Scotland’s Remote, Rural and Island Communities

Delivering the essential high-quality, flexible childcare in Scotland’s remote, rural and island areas is no small feat. Yet it’s essential—not just for children’s wellbeing and development, but for enabling parents to work, support their families, and break cycles of poverty.

Delivering the essential high-quality, flexible childcare in Scotland’s remote, rural and island areas is no small feat. Yet it’s essential—not just for children’s wellbeing and development, but for enabling parents to work, support their families, and break cycles of poverty.

In summer 2025, the Improvement Service Remote, Rural and Island Child Poverty Network joined forces with wider stakeholders to tackle this challenge head-on. Using a design-led approach, the group explored how childcare gaps in these communities contribute to child poverty, and what can be done to change that.

Understanding the Challenge

From the outset, it was clear: this is a complex, systemic issue. A lack of childcare settings and qualified staff leaves many families without the support they need. Fluctuating demand makes it hard for providers to stay viable. Childminders face financial and legal hurdles, and fragmented services force parents into costly, time-consuming arrangements. The result? Limited access, higher costs, and fewer opportunities for low-income families.

To dig deeper, the Remote, Rural and Island Child Poverty Network, produced a Kickstart Paper based on research and interviews with local leads. This was followed by three online sessions that identified key problem areas and explored potential solutions.

Emerging Solutions

Participants shared a wide range of ideas—from rethinking care models to reforming regulations. These were refined into a longlist and tested through a sector-wide survey. Here are the standout proposals:

• Integrated Models of Care

One of the boldest ideas was the Single Care Model, championed by the Care and Learning Alliance (CALA). This approach would allow practitioners to work across both adult and childcare services—ideal for communities with consistent but fragmented demand.

Not only could this model create sustainable career paths and foster intergenerational bonds, it could also strengthen community cohesion. However, regulatory barriers remain. Participants urged the Scottish Government and Care Inspectorate to consider reforms that would allow flexible, integrated care delivery in rural areas.

Another regulatory issue flagged was the requirement for childcare managers to attend one session per week per service and oversee no more than five services. In sparsely populated areas, this rule is seen as a major obstacle to recruitment and financial sustainability.

• Supporting Rural Childminders

Childminders are vital to rural childcare, yet many are deterred by low pay and restrictive rules. Building on research from the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA), stakeholders proposed several changes:

– Pay childminders for caring for their own or relatives’ children, who currently count toward capacity but don’t generate income.

– Guarantee the living wage in areas with low or fluctuating demand.

– Allow childminders to operate in non-residential settings like village halls or community centres.

These reforms could unlock new capacity and make childminding a more attractive, resilient profession.

• Smarter Planning

Childcare planning is often fragmented and reactive. Participants called for a more strategic, data-driven approach—planning at the secondary school catchment level rather than service-by-service.

Recommendations included:

– Investing in data systems that combine population forecasts, transport routes, and employer locations.

– Streamlining consultation processes to focus on locality-wide engagement.

– Ensuring inclusive dialogue with parents, especially those from priority groups.

This shift could lead to more responsive, equitable childcare provision tailored to local needs.

• Funding with a Rural Lens

Funding emerged as a major concern. Rural providers face higher costs and inconsistent demand, yet funding models remain largely per capita.

Key proposals included:

– Applying a rural child poverty lens to funding decisions, factoring in deprivation, remoteness, and demand variability.

– Guaranteeing a set amount of funding for rural settings, regardless of uptake.

– Providing consistent, long-term funding to support planning and investment.

These measures would offer financial stability and help maintain essential childcare infrastructure.

What’s Next?

Survey responses showed strong support for many of these ideas—especially guaranteeing a living wage for childminders, applying a rural poverty lens to funding, and securing a guaranteed funding envelope for areas with variable demand.

Some proposals, like the Single Care Model and changes to managerial requirements, sparked debate and will need further exploration.

Scotland’s rural childcare system is at a turning point. With thoughtful reform, strategic investment, and a commitment to fairness, we can build a system that supports children, empowers families, and helps communities thrive.

The Improvement Service will publish a full overview of the process and findings in the coming months.