Analysis: Nursery closures across Scotland should be alarming ministers as much as parents

It ticks many boxes for decision-makers, including by helping to tackle child poverty, not to mention the huge economic boost that can be unlocked if more parents are able to return to employment or their studies.

Indeed, the Scottish Government’s parent survey found that 74 per cent of parents agreed or strongly agreed that funded early learning and childcare meant they had been able to work or look for a job.

In many ways the Holyrood government and councils deserve credit for having been able to implement the huge expansion for the scheme in 2021, albeit after a delay caused by the pandemic.

The number of hours of funded childcare available almost doubled, from 600 a year to 1,140, covering all three-year-olds, four-year-olds and some two-year-olds.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has since pledged to extend it further, covering all one-year-olds and two-year-olds.

The UK Government has also announced the phased introduction of 30 hours free childcare per week for working parents of children aged nine months and older, until school.

However, on both sides of the border there are concerns about the implementation of the policies.

In England, the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said last week that there were "serious questions" about whether there would be enough places to deliver the pledge.

Meanwhile, Audit Scotland has also highlighted that the sector is “fragile”, amid staff shortages and budget pressures.

Many private nurseries and childminders in particular believe that the distribution model for funding the policy is deeply flawed.

Along with high inflation and the post-Brexit labour market, they say it is leaving facilities on the brink of “collapse”.

They are so frustrated that the Scottish Private Nursery Association has now told The Scotsman it is considering legal action over the way the policy is operating.

These warnings, along with a spate of recent closures across Scotland, must be taken seriously by Mr Yousaf and his government if they want their flagship policy to succeed.

Thousands of struggling parents will be watching closely. They, and their young children, depend on it.