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Supporting School Age Childcare in Scotland
National Conference - March 2026
Inclusion in Action! Listening, learning, and leading for children with additional support needs in school age childcare
Become one of our members and access training, discounts, and join up with other services.
What we do
How we can help?

We have a range on in-person school age childcare specific training and offer a bespoke consultancy service to help keep your childcare service in good health.

Resources and Templates

We have various templates, toolkits, and sample policies to help you manage your service and meet its regulatory requirements.

Policy and research

As the national intermediary organisation in Scotland for school-age childcare, we are involved in advocacy work on behalf of the sector and provide expert opinion and offer views, on proposals, issues or policies affecting the sector.

Information and Guidance

If you are a parent, carer, child, workforce member, or anyone else with an interest in school age childcare, we provide a range a free guides and materials.

School Age Childcare Specific Training
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Financial Support to Parents
Financial Support to Parents
Understanding Financial Support to Parents to Pay for Childcare

Understanding Financial Support to Parents to Pay for Childcare

At present, there is no direct financial support to school age childcare services other than the fees paid by parents, and all too often parents cite the cost of childcare as being unaffordable so do not use it.

What many working parents don't realise is that they will probably be able to access some form of additional financial support from government to help pay for childcare costs; this could vary from 20% (via tax-free childcare system) up to 85% (via universal credit). So, for example, if an afterschool care session costs £12, parents could receive between £2.40 and £10.20 from government to help pay for the place.

Parents attending college or university may also be eligible for support to cover the costs of childcare.

The following document highlights the various financial support options to parents to pay for childcare.

Full document: https://soscn.org/downloads/news/financial-support-to-pay-for-childcare.pdf

Accompanying Leaflet: https://soscn.org/downloads/news/financial-support-leaflet.pdf

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