Flexible Pay-As-You-Go Childcare Is Changing Lives for Working Families in Scotland
There’s been some really encouraging news lately about how flexible childcare options are offering a much-needed lifeline to families juggling work and childcare responsibilities. A charity called Flexible Childcare Services Scotland (FCSS) has been making a real difference by offering a pay-as-you-go childcare model that’s designed to fit around parents’ lives rather than forcing families into rigid, expensive schedules.
To explain, FCSS operates six nurseries in disadvantaged areas across Scotland, and what sets them apart is the flexibility they provide. Instead of booking childcare by the full day or week, parents can book slots by the hour. They only pay for the time their children actually spend in nursery, and they can change their bookings as their work or education commitments shift. This kind of system is a huge help for parents who work irregular hours or part-time jobs, where traditional childcare just doesn’t work.
Take the story of Kerry Anne Laing from Dundee. Before discovering FCSS, Kerry was struggling badly with childcare costs while trying to maintain her full-time job. She described living “on the breadline,” feeling stuck in a “broken” system where she had to twist her schedule around limited nursery availability. She even said she used to wake up in dread, worried about how to keep her son in nursery and keep her career going. But now, with FCSS’s flexible pay-by-the-hour nursery, she’s saving around £500 every month. Instead of leaving her son in care all day, she books just the hours she needs — about two days a week — which has made a massive financial difference.
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Kerry’s experience isn’t unique. Childcare remains one of the biggest expenses for families in Scotland, often costing more than rent or mortgage payments. Recent data shows that the average cost of a part-time nursery place for a child under two rose by 7% since last year, hitting around £122 per week. For many families, finding affordable childcare that matches their work or study schedule is nearly impossible.
The personal, community-focused nature of FCSS’s nurseries is also key. Kerry speaks warmly about how well the nursery staff know her son — his likes, dislikes, and needs — creating a supportive, family-like atmosphere. This kind of connection is rare in bigger childcare centers and makes a big difference to parents and children alike.
Thanks to the savings and support from this flexible childcare model, Kerry has even been able to open her own hair salon — something she never imagined possible before. She says the difference between this system and the old one is “like day and night,” and it’s almost unbelievable that someone is willing to work with families so flexibly.
The charity’s work is backed by the STV Children’s Appeal and the Hunter Foundation, aiming to expand and push forward childcare reform in Scotland. Nursery manager Amy Simpson explains that many parents only need a few hours of childcare that fits exactly around their lives — and that’s what FCSS delivers.
All in all, flexible pay-as-you-go childcare is proving to be a game-changer for families who need it most, helping parents return to work, save money, and find a better balance between their jobs and family life. It’s a hopeful sign that childcare in Scotland is slowly becoming more accessible and family-friendly.
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