Poverty and Social Exclusion in Rural Scotland, by the Rural Poverty and Inclusion Working Group, found that parents generally welcomed the Scottish Executive's commitment to offer two hours of free pre-school provision daily for all three-and four-year-olds, but reported problems accessing affordable pre-school and childcare provision.
The lack of suitable childcare created a barrier to employment, especially for lone parents, and children were seen as missing out on the benefits of pre-school. The researchers spoke to one parent who was forced to stay overnight with relatives just so a child could go to pre-school one day a week.
The report states, 'It is vital that children in rural communities are given the best start possible - that they attain the basic education and life skills to enable them to develop; that they grow up in a safe environment, free from stress; and that they are removed from the cycle of deprivation.
'We found that there is an overlap between the issues affecting children, young people and families. However, there are poverty and social exclusion issues that specifically affect children in rural communities.' The report recommends that:
* Local childcare partnerships and the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) work together to disseminate good practice on identifying and training childminders in rural areas.
* The Employment Service, Local Enterprise Companies and local childcare partnerships liaise to identify potential childminders.
* Local Enterprise Companies and the Scottish Executive support the development of childcare services in rural areas as a direct means of employment and to enable parents to seek work.
SCMA national development officer Maggie Simpson said, 'One of the main problems for people who want to become registered childminders in remote areas is viability.
'In isolated areas they are unlikely to build a viable business solely from private childminding. We have a put a model together for childminders to diversify from a mainstream childcare service into out-of-school care, daycare work with vulnerable children and families, and delivering pre-school education. But it does not happen overnight and there needs to be additional financial support for them to start up and remain in business.'
Researchers visited Shetland Childcare Partnership, which funds two peripatetic health visitors and a play van to serve isolated families. It also tries to persuade people to train to SVQ 2 (available via distance learning) and to become childminders.
Pre-school providers also referred to 'dis-economies of scale' in rural areas. Barriers to providing pre-school services included administrative burdens and requirements to meet HMI standards. The Scottish Executive also recently published a summary of research carried out by the University of Aberdeen, Interchange 69: Pre-school Education Provision in Rural Areas (News, 6 September), available on www.scotland.gov.uk.
