Enhanced Family Support

Childminding is the most nurturing form of childcare – it offers a whole-family approach – where childminders play a key role in supporting the wellbeing of children, families, and also those most in need.

SCMA has been a pioneer in championing enhanced family support for many years, supporting and delivering services, where high-quality childminders can best meet the needs of each individual family.

Our Enhanced Family Support services – including Community Childminding and the Family Childminding Partnership – are designed to deliver a holistic whole-family approach to childcare, focussed on achieving positive outcomes for children, whilst meeting the needs of the wider family.

With support from trained, professional childminders, parents/carers can also become more confident in their own parenting skills, family engagement is improved, relationships are improved, and secure attachments are strengthened, thus developing resilience in children.

To discover more about our Community Childminding and Family Childminding Partnership, please refer to the sections below...

Community Childminding

SCMA’s Community Childminding Service provides support to vulnerable families during times of need, crisis or as an intervention to prevent one from occurring. Community Childminders can enhance the wellbeing of children and their families by providing a safe space, away from the stressful situation where they can focus on their specific needs.

Find out more about our Community Childminding Service
Read our Community Childminding Case Studies

Childminders play a vital role in 'making a difference' and improving outcomes for the development and wellbeing of children and their families, which is fundamental to the Community Childminding Service.

As always, the child is paramount and care is tailored to their individual needs, with a particular focus on developing resilience and achieving crucial milestones. The eight Wellbeing Indicators (GIRFEC) are used to map achievements and measure success.

Application and Referral Process for Community Childminding

The Community Childminding Service is currently available in:

Aberdeen City
City of Glasgow
Fife
Scottish Borders (known here as the 'Supported Childminding Scheme')
Stirling (which focuses on weekend and overnight care)

If you live in one of these five areas, are interested in taking part in training to become a Community Childminder, please email us at information@childminding.org.

Families are referred to the Community Childminding Service directly by Health Visitors, Social Workers and Family Support Workers. Referrals may be for a variety of reasons - from children with behavioural issues to a parent with mental illness. Children will typically have short term placements with a Community Childminder, for up to eight hours a week over a six to 26-week period. Although this is available for children of any age, the majority tend to be age three and under.

Family Childminding Partnership

The Family Childminding Partnership (FCP) is a new project for 2024, which builds on our experience of delivering whole family support and childcare through our Community Childminding and other wellbeing services.

We are testing the impact and outcomes of a model which supports whole-family wellbeing, targeting families in need and supporting the key commitments of The Promise, through the provision of preventative family support within enhanced, nurturing childminding placements.

Placements will be offered to those most in need, who fall within the six priority groups in the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, as well as to kinship carers and parents who are care experienced.

It is currently being piloted in five areas: Aberdeenshire, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian and will support children (primarily from 9 – 23 months old, but including other siblings where possible) with flexible, family-centred childminding services.

Up to four childminding sessions per week (12-16 hours) over 12 weeks, adjusted to meet individual family needs.
Or, in some areas, up to three sessions per week up until the child is eligible for ‘eligible twos’ ELC funding.
Settling-in days provided as needed for smooth transitioning.

Application Process for the Family Childminding Partnership

Applications for accessing this service are made by referral only – e.g. by a Health Visitor or Social Worker. Please email sonia.watson@childminding.org for further information about FCP.