Our Helpline is run from Head Office in Stirling and operated by a team of fully trained staff. It can be accessed Monday - Friday, 10 am - 4 pm by anyone who needs support with a childminding issue. Over the past year the Helpline has taken a high volume of calls answering questions as varied as:

• What records do I need to keep for the taxman?
• How do I cope with a minded child that is biting?
• How much should I be paying for my childminder?

Most calls relate to information on becoming a childminder or are regarding contract disputes. The Helpline has also dealt with queries about finding childcare, holiday pay, and car seat regulations. SCMA supports childminders everyday so we know the queries and problems childminders or parents may come up against; no question is too trivial.

"Most childminders work by themselves and the Helpline is essential to stop us feeling isolated. There is always a friendly, well informed person at the other end of the phone that really understands the uniqueness of childminding. In the past the Helpline was only two afternoons a week but now it is on everyday, I would pay my membership for the Helpline alone!"
(Wilma Brennan, childminder in Scottish Borders)

SCMA understands that some callers may feel more comfortable not giving personal details when using the Helpline; that is why we are committed to providing a confidential service. SCMA believes that anyone who uses the line deserves the right to confidentiality to protect his or her interests. The only exception to this would be in relation to some child protection issues.