Anonymous survey answerSurvey Nº 110

I pay for childcare to work – but may not get the hours. If I cancel the childcare then I can’t work.

Paying for childcare but may not get the hours

Published 5 October 2026 · 1 min read

Employment situation: Supply teaching
Sector: Primary

I had a critical illness in 2023 and registered disabled but trying to get my career back. The current circumstances make it extremely difficult to work.

Childcare is also another crippling factor to consider. I pay for childcare to work – but may not get the hours. If I cancel the childcare then I can’t work. 2 days childcare is £480ish per month. It’s very stressful.

We know schools need more staffing. The cutbacks have been terrible for all. Staff morale is low. Pupils require far more support than what is available.

This is answer 110 of the 269 written answers that teachers let us quote anonymously in the Scottish Teacher Employment Survey 2026. It answers the survey’s last question: what do the people who make decisions about teacher employment need to know?

We have corrected spelling, added paragraph breaks and removed details that could identify anyone. Words in square brackets are ours.

Every answer in the report (PDF) Survey results

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