THOUSANDS of families are missing out on their right to free childcare, Scottish Labour has claimed, as the party launched a stinging attack on the SNP government's record on nursery places.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Kezia Dugdale said some parents were giving up their jobs because suitable nursery care was unavailable, despite government pledges.
The attack came exactly a year after MSPs passed legislation entitling parents to 600 hours of free nursery care for three- and four-year-olds, and some two-year-olds.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon insisted the offer of 600 hours was a "success story".
Speaking during First Minister's Questions, Ms Dugdale highlighted a new report from the Family and Childcare Trust which suggested parents were more likely to find adequate levels of childcare in England and Wales than Scotland.
She told MSPs: "On the SNP's watch things are getting worse for families trying to juggle family life.
"Parents across Scotland have one simple question for the First Minister: isn't it about time she made good on her childcare promises?"
The challenge came amid growing anger over the availability of childcare.
Last week a Glasgow-based campaign group, Fair Funding for Our Kids, called on Ms Sturgeon to find an extra £2million to deliver the pledge across the city.
The council does not provide sufficient full-time places in its own nurseries, leaving working families with the impractical option of moving their children between a council and private nursery during the day.
According to the Family and Childcare Trust report, 43 per cent of councils in England reported sufficient childcare provision in their area, compared with 18 per cent in Wales and 15 per cent in Scotland.
The proportion of Scottish councils reporting adequate provision fell from 23 per cent last year.
Ms Dugdale said: "Today's report exposes the fact that working parents aren't getting the support they need from the SNP Government.
"The fact that mums and dads in Scotland are having to leave their jobs because they can't afford childcare is a disgrace.
"The SNP Government must order a full audit of childcare provision across Scotland. Lagging behind England and Wales just isn't good enough. Parents in Scotland deserve better from the SNP Government.
"Working parents in Scotland are tired of lots of nice words from the First Minister. They just want to know when the SNP will make good on their childcare promises."
Ms Sturgeon conceded some parents were having difficulty "accessing their childcare in a way that suits their working patterns" and said improvements were being sought.
But she told MSPs 98.5 per cent of three and four-years-olds were registered for free nursery care.
Highlighting the increase in free nursery hours since the SNP came to power, she told MSPs: "No matter how hard Kezia Dugdale tries to manipulate the figures, she cannot get away from the fact that an increase from 412.5 hours of free childcare to 600 hours is a significant step forward.
"This Government has delivered on childcare and we will continue to do so.
"For goodness sake, this is a massive success story."
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