Support For Childminders

21st January 2021

Funding of £1 million has been made available for childminders who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Grants of up to £1,000 each will be made to eligible childminding providers, and work is now underway with the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) to finalise the details of the scheme. Further information on how to apply will be published shortly.

Alongside the funding, a new Childminding Action Plan has been published, setting out the Scottish Government's vision for the sector and the actions to support it that are being taken now and into the future. These include:

• development of flexible, tailored learning models to better support childminders to access continued professional learning

• research into trends within the childminding workforce to better inform future actions to support the growth of the sector

• work collaboratively across the sector to identify and deliver ways in which childminders can be better enabled to participate in the opportunity to provide the funded early learning and childcare (ELC) entitlement

Children's Minister Maree Todd said:

"Childminders are a vital and valued part of our childcare sector, providing high quality care and learning in a safe and nurturing environment.

"Just as many other childcare providers have experienced financial pressures as a result of the pandemic and the restrictions that have been placed on them, childminders too have raised genuine concern about the future sustainability of their businesses.

"I'm pleased that we can today publish our vision for the profession, and hope that on top of the previous financial support we've made available, these further grants will provide additional help during these very difficult times."

Grants of £500, £750 or £1,000 will be available, based on assessed need.

Information about support for the childcare sector