On behalf of childminding in Scotland Maggie Simpson, Chief Executive of the Scottish Childminding Association has welcomed the appointment of Mark McDonald MSP as the new Minister for Childcare and Early Years.
Commenting on the recent announcement Maggie said: “The SNP has very ambitious childcare plans, promising to invest as much as possible in a brighter future for our young people. SCMA, together with our membership, have a key role to play in these development plans in order to provide the best start in life for younger Scots and to make life easier for parents.
“SCMA was delighted when First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently recognised the importance of childminding whilst announcing the development of a new learning pathway for the profession. We were encouraged by her endorsement of childminding and the statement that ‘Childminders do an absolutely crucial job for parents across Scotland, ensuring that their children are properly cared for while they go out to work. They play a vital role in children’s development, which helps to reduce social inequality and close the attainment gap’.
“Without doubt good quality, extensive childcare is crucial to children's educational attainment and life chances and I look forward to working closely with Mark to ensure that childminders remain central to the Scottish Government’s ambitions for the expansion of early learning and childcare in the years to come.”