Free Child-Led Participation Guide for SCMA Members

SCMA has been working with the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS) and the University of Stirling on the production of two very special publications: Child-Led Participation: a Childminders Guide and an Activity Leaflet.

Launching this month, the guide provides useful theoretical information, including legal background, definitions, models for child participation, and many other interesting and valuable facts. In essence it is an easy to read document that explains complex issues in a simple manner and is part of the path to a better understanding and practice with our children.  The accompanying Activity Leaflet offers practical tips and suggestions with a focus on respecting the opinions and choices of children.

Commenting on the launch of the publications, Tam Baillie, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People said: “Well done to SCMA on the production of the easy to read guide on Child-Led Participation and the Activity Leaflet. They form part of the path to a better understanding and practice with our children, adopting the framework of ‘The Golden Rules’ of participation as developed by my office.

"It is especially pleasing to see them further developed to apply to childminding. I am delighted to endorse the guide and believe it is a positive contribution to the transformation of how we care for and develop our children in the context of a rights based approach.”  

The guide consists of an impressive mix of interpretation and illustration of how a rights based approach can be applied in a childminding setting. Dr Greg Mannion, School of Education at the University of Stirling formed part of the team that developed the guide: "As the good practice guide identifies, given the niche that childminders occupy, they are distinctively placed to respond to the needs of young people’s participation through the manner in which early learning and childcare are provided in this sector.”

“I hope it will spur the childminding sector on to even greater attentiveness to the participation rights of our younger citizens and trust that it will assist newcomers and experts alike to refine and improve their work in this area.”

Maggie Simpson, Chief Executive of SCMA added: “Scotland is changing for the better and none more so than in the way we treat our children and young people. This is especially the case for children in their youngest, formative years when they are most susceptible to the influences of the care they receive and the environments in which they are nurtured. 

“We know a lot more about the interaction of attachment and brain development and in Scotland we have been educating ourselves in messages from research as we apply them to the development of good practices.

“I would like to thank Tam and Greg and their teams and for their guidance and assistance in the production of these new publications. The leaflet contains numerous tips and questions straight from childminders and observations of their practice.  Together with the guidance, it is hoped that childminders will use these publications every day to help offer children a variety of fun activities, whilst respecting their opinions and choices.”

All childminders in Scotland are being offered the Child-Led Participation Activity Leaflet either directly through the summer issue of our Childminding magazine or via a postcard mailing. SCMA members will also receive the full 24-page guide alongside their magazine, which is due to land on doorsteps next week.