THE Scottish government must “make good on its promise” and expand childcare provision for working parents over the summer break, the Scottish Greens have said.

As young people across Scotland embark on their six-week summer holidays this week, Green MSP Laura Moodie warned it could be a time of “crisis” for parents who need consistent childcare in place to remain at work, rather than the patchwork of activities offered by community groups and councils often aimed at older children.

Reminding the Scottish government that it backed a Green motion last month calling for urgent improvements, such as access to funded childcare the week after a child’s third birthday, Ms Moodie said: “Instead of getting uniforms, bags and lunches ready this weekend, many parents will spend time trying to work out a plan for their kids’ childcare.

“We cannot allow families to face this same crisis every summer. 

“We need to see the Scottish government make good on its promise and take the opportunity to fix the broken parts of the childcare system, including looking at provision during holidays, to support families who need it most so that parents can still work and know their children are both safe and having fun over summer.”

The Scottish government said: “While there are high levels of parent satisfaction with the current Early Learning and Childcare offer, we recognise the need for a childcare system to be better designed round the need of parents and carers. 

“That’s why we will deliver a new wraparound childcare system for every child from nine months old to the end of primary school for 52 weeks a year by the end of this parliamentary session.”