Devolution within the United Kingdom (UK) forms part of increased regionalisation in the European Union (EU). The post-devolution history of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Scotland illustrates problems arising from split responsibilities and nation-state policies that fail to take adequate account of devolved administrations. UK-led programmes and demand subsidies separated childcare policies from Scotland-led education services making it more difficult to build on Scottish models and experience. As a result, ECEC development has been less radical than some other Scottish policy areas, and less extensive than in England. The current Scottish government sees its vision of a Nordic-style universal ECEC system as only achievable through independence. It is suggested here that Scottish ECEC developments might have benefited from Scotland having more funding and policy levers, or from UK policies making greater allowances for divergent approaches to welfare policy. The article raises the possibility that a strong, common EU framework could assist in developing coherence across regionalised administrations.