BY JACKIE MACKENZIE
A group of Skye mothers say they are being forced to quit work, or take fewer hours, amid a critical shortage of childcare provision on the island.
The mums are trying to return from maternity leave, but with places at Skye’s few nurseries over-subscribed and a dearth of childminders, that is proving near impossible.
They believe the situation is affecting many more local families and have set up their own Facebook page – Skye Mums – to share experiences and get a fuller picture of the need.
Bethany Macleod has worked as a receptionist at the busy Portree Medical Centre for the past 10 years.
Currently on maternity leave after the birth of eight-month-old baby Jasper, she had hoped to return to work in February 2026.
But Bethany said: “It doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to do that now. There is no place available at Portree Nursery because they are short staffed and there are no other childcare options such as childminders. It’s not the nursery’s fault, they do a fantastic job, but demand well outstrips supply.
“My mum works full-time and my partner’s mum also works so the family are unable to help and they have their own commitments.
“Not being able to return to work has a huge impact on families. It’s scary.”
Fiona Thomson worked for Portree and Braes Trust as development manager for seven years before she took maternity leave to have baby Murdo 13 months ago.
Her plan had been to return to work three days a week, but that has not proved possible.
“I returned to work in the middle of October but only for one-and-a-half days and at the moment we don’t have any formal childcare,” explained Fiona.
“I have now had a formal offer of one-and-a-half days from the nursery from January so that’s very welcome, but ideally I would have liked three days to allow me to work part-time hours and for my partner to continue working full-time. But, as it stands, we’re going to attempt for me to go back two-and-a-half days, which is going to be a squeeze. It means me and my partner working weekends and evenings, and will likely mean us both using annual leave to fulfil our contract hours.
“Everyone else that I know who has a child of a similar age is in the same position, if not worse.”
Maggie MacAskill, who runs her own cleaning company Skye Scrubbers, had her first baby in July. Similarly, she has been unable to find childcare and relies on her mum for a couple of hours’ help, while she does business admin from home.
“The Portree nursery is so busy there is not even a waiting list and there’s nowhere else you can go,” said Maggie.
The mothers believe it would be very useful for a survey to be carried out to gain a comprehensive view of the childcare need on the island, and for authorities to reach out to nurseries to see what could help them increase provision.
Local MSP Kate Forbes told the Free Press: “As someone who knows firsthand how hard it is to balance work with caring for a young child, I can relate to these mums, and recognise how essential accessible, reliable childcare is.
“I’ve consistently campaigned for better provision, because it’s vital our rural and island communities get the support working parents need.
“That includes meeting with Skye parents on a number of occasions and encouraging Highland Council to look at more flexible options. Highlands and Islands Enterprise recently commissioned a report on childcare in rural and island areas, with a number of recommendations.
“I’ve written to the Scottish Government Minister to ask for some flexibilities so that childcare is easier to provide in more rural areas.”
Skye councillor John Finlayson who chairs the education committee said: “There is awareness regarding the shortage of childcare available across many parts of Highland including Skye and Raasay and workshops and recruitment drives have taken place. Ultimately like so many recruitment drives, if people do not step forward to take on roles like childminding it can be very difficult to offer services. Work will continue to try and seek out solutions, and I will liaise with relevant officers to see what further can be done.”