Childcare Support Fund

About the Childcare Support Fund

The Childcare Support Fund is a £15 million Scottish Government investment for 2026–27, established as part of Bringing Hope, Building Futures: Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2026–2031. It recognises that access to affordable, flexible childcare is essential not only for children and families to thrive, but also for enabling parents and carers to access and sustain employment, education and training.

The Fund provides flexible, short-term support with registered childcare for children from 9 months to the end of primary school. It is particularly focused on low-income families living in, or at risk of, poverty who experience a point of transition or challenge where the cost or availability of childcare becomes a barrier. This might include starting or returning to work, increasing working hours, undertaking training or education, changes to existing childcare arrangements, or unexpected family circumstances such as illness, disability, bereavement or relationship breakdown.

Through the Fund, Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) has received funding to support families across the North of Scotland (see below), with a particular focus on overcoming the additional challenges families can experience in rural communities, including limited childcare provision, transport and rural poverty.

The overall aim is to provide timely, practical support at the point it is needed, helping families to reduce childcare costs, maintain or access suitable childcare, increase earned income where possible, participate in learning and training, and support children and families to thrive. The Fund is designed to complement rather than duplicate existing childcare support, with each family’s individual circumstances considered when determining the most appropriate support.

If you feel that your family could benefit from this support, or you are a professional working with or supporting a family who may be eligible, we would encourage you to find out more.

Please take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions below for further information about who the Fund is for, what support may be available and how to apply or make a referral

Argyll and Bute
Highlands & Islands
Orkney
Moray
Shetland

Frequently Asked Questions

The fund is designed to help families from across the North of Scotland (including Highlands and Islands, Moray, Argyll and Bute, Orkney Shetland and the Western Isles) on a low income, living in poverty or at risk of poverty, where the cost or availability of childcare is creating a barrier or difficulty. Support is intended to be flexible and based on each family’s individual circumstances.

Families may be considered where childcare support is needed because of circumstances such as:

  • starting work, returning to work or increasing working hours;
  • looking for employment;
  • attending education or training;
  • existing childcare arrangements breaking down;
  • illness or disability affecting a parent/carer or child;
  • bereavement or relationship breakdown;
  • an unexpected reduction or loss of income; or
  • other family circumstances creating temporary financial hardship

Not necessarily. The fund considers the family’s individual circumstances and financial pressures rather than simply whether they receive a particular benefit. The application asks about household income, changes in circumstances and the impact childcare costs are having on the family.

Potentially, yes. However, receiving Childcare Support Fund support may affect Universal Credit childcare support. Families receiving Universal Credit should therefore speak to their Work Coach about the potential impact before accepting support so they can make an informed decision.

Any existing childcare support, such as funded ELC, Universal Credit Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare, local authority funding or other third-sector support, will be considered as part of the assessment. The Fund is designed to complement existing support, and the same childcare costs cannot be funded more than once.

Depending on the family’s needs and available provision, support could include Early Learning and Childcare, Childminding, breakfast clubs, after-school care, holiday childcare or other appropriate registered childcare.

Yes. Any childcare funded through the scheme must be provided by a childcare service registered with the Care Inspectorate. The Fund cannot be used to pay for childcare provided by an unregistered service.

No. The funding is used to subsidise or fully fund childcare and is paid to the childcare provider, rather than being given directly to parents or carers.

This will depend on the family’s individual circumstances and what support is needed. The CALA referral process considers periods including up to 4 weeks, 1–3 months, 3–6 months or longer than 6 months. However, Childcare Support Fund costs must be incurred within the current funding period, which ends 31 March 2027.

The fund is aimed at low-income families who are living in, or at risk of living in, poverty and who are experiencing a time of transition, financial hardship or other circumstances where the cost or availability of childcare is creating a barrier. This could include starting

or returning to work, increasing working hours, seeking employment, attending education or training, a breakdown in childcare arrangements, illness, bereavement, relationship breakdown or an unexpected reduction in income.

You do not need to decide whether you are definitely eligible before applying. CALA will consider each application individually, looking at the family’s circumstances, childcare needs and any other childcare support already available

CALA Childcare Support Fund can be accessed in two ways

Parents

Parents and carers can apply directly to CALA by completing the Childcare Support Fund Application Form. The form asks about the family’s circumstances, current childcare arrangements, financial pressures, the childcare support required and how this support would help the family.

Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/262566775451063

Professionals

A professional/childcare provider who is supporting the family can make a referral on their behalf, with the parent/carer’s informed consent.

Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/262567123248358

Please answer all of the information on the online application. Supporting information may be requested after the application has been recieved. Examples include a Universal Credit award notice, employer’s letter, medical evidence, evidence of bereavement or changed family circumstances, or confirmation of education or training. However, lack of evidence will not automatically prevent an application being considered where obtaining it would cause hardship.

CALA will consider each application individually. Applications will initially be assessed using a points-based scoring system to help ensure funding is allocated fairly and consistently. Where applications receive the same score, the date the completed application was received will then be taken into consideration.

CALA will review the family’s circumstances and childcare needs to determine whether support through the fund is appropriate. Where an application is successful, this may include agreeing suitable childcare hours and arranging for the agreed childcare costs to be fully or partially funded.

CALA may contact the parent/carer or professional referrer if any additional information or clarification is required to support the assessment of the application.

Round 1: Applications close on 16th October 2026 – Provider Payment on 26th October 2026

Round 2: Applications close on 13th November 2026 – Provider Payment on 24th November 2026

Round 3: Applications close on 31st December 2026 – Provider Payment  5th January 2027

Round 4: Applications close on 8th February 2027 – Provider Payment 15th February 2027

Final Round : Applications close on 19th March 2027 – Provider Payment  25th March 2027

Ready to apply?

Closing Date for application:

Friday 16th October 2026 @5pm

Information Gathering:

Monday 19th October – Friday 23rd October 2026

Decision Emails

On or before Monday 26th October 2026

Provider Payment:

Rolling provider payment – see FAQ for dates

Referring a family

Please click here if you are making a referral on behalf of a family.

Before completing the referral form, please ensure that you have the parent/carer’s informed consent to share their information with CALA. The parent/carer will also be required to sign the referral form to confirm their consent before the application can be processed.

Parent/Carer Applying

Please click here if you are the parent/carer applying.

Please remember, the Childcare Support Fund is designed to provide short-term support at times when the cost or availability of childcare is creating a barrier for your family, helping you through a period of financial pressure, change or transition.

Still have questions?

Email us at: [email protected]

Tel: 01463222569