SWBG blog

Recognising the needs of parents of multiples in the upcoming Programme for Government

Joint blog by Carmen Martinez, SWBG's Coordinator, and Carole Erskine, Head of Policy & Campaigns at Pregnant then Screwed Scotland.

The last couple of weeks have seen Scotland gripped by political turmoil, and for the second time in just over a year, the country has a new First Minister. The Scottish Women’s Budget Group and Pregnant then Screwed Scotland would like to congratulate Mr Swinney on his appointment and take this opportunity to highlight one of our shared asks for the upcoming Programme for Government: extending the funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) offer (1140 hours) to children of multiple births at the earlier age of 2, alongside children from the vulnerable category group.

Current context 

In August 2021, the Scottish Government introduced a new funded ELC offer, which provides all families with up to 1140 hours per year funded childcare for all three- and four-year-olds. Two-year-olds from households facing the most socio-economic disadvantage also qualify, with the Scottish Government using this investment to improve outcomes for children. 

While our organisations recognise that targeted support is needed for low-income families, the reality is that with the average cost of a full-time nursery place for an under three being £13,861.12¹ per year, more and faster action is required to improve affordability and accessibility of childcare in Scotland. We are campaigning for universal childcare offered to families from the end of maternity, though we recognise  this is something that might take a bit longer to achieve. In the meantime  it is crucial that the upcoming Programme for Government takes into account the particular circumstances that parents of multiples find themselves in.

A's story 

Perhaps no one can illustrate this issue better than ‘A’, a mother we have been in touch with for the last few months. Here is her story:

“I am a teacher, and my salary is £53,000 as I have a promoted post. My local nursery has put fees up from £56-£73 over the past year and a half, this will only continue to rise. I know that this increase has a huge impact on many families, but can you imagine having 2 or more children to pay childcare for when you have a multiple birth. As a family we have a mortgage which is cheaper than rent at £870, and we own one car, we have no credit cards or overdrafts and carefully planned our second pregnancy. My childcare costs per week will be £700, £600 for the twins’ nursery fees and £100 for my child’s morning and after school club. For a four-week month, this will equate to £2800 and for a five-week month this will be £3500. You get no discounts for twins attending nursery and I have had to take two years off work as the waiting list for twins has been longer and the earliest I could get a place was August 2025 (the nursery stated that as I have twins this adds to the pressures of them finding me a place earlier ). My take home salary after pension and student loan fees is roughly £2700 so ultimately, I cannot afford to go back to work. This will mean that when the mortgage renewal is up next year, we face the possibility of having to sell our home as both incomes are needed. It truly is working poverty. No matter how many times I think this can’t be, the truth is that this is now our reality.

In Scotland in 2022, there were 622 twin births and 9 triplet births. This was 1.36% of all maternities or 1 in 74. Currently unless you are on benefits there is no support for parents of multiples towards childcare costs or anything which you need times 2 or 3.

At a recent conference which I attended based on childcare provisions in Scotland all the organisations present stated that little to no consideration had been given to the extra financial burden which parents of multiples face. I am worried that the voices of those with multiples are not being considered and it must be as we suffer more so than any other parents due to increasing childcare costs.

I think everyone in society would agree that those with multiples need extra support, everyone who I meet asks how will I be able to afford childcare as it’s bad enough paying for one , my answer is always ‘ I don’t know ‘ , for the first time in my life I do not know whether I can afford to go back to work to a job I love and that I have worked so hard to achieve and I face the prospect of losing our home.  We cannot be forgotten when making family and childhood policies, we deserve better, and we need support”.

What we are asking for

The lack of consideration of the unique position of parents of multiples in the ELC policy is likely to have been an oversight. 

That’s why we ask the First Minister to recognise the needs of parents of multiples, and to include them within the policy guidelines as part of any changes to the ELC offer in his upcoming Programme for Government 2024/2025.

Footnotes

1. Childcare costs: How much do you pay in Scotland?