Scottish Childminding Partnership
Funding now available to provide training and dedicated support to become a childminder and establish your new business from home.
Come and join the childminding workforce!
SCMA is delighted to be embarking on another recruitment campaign with a fantastic package of fully funded support and training available to successful applicants, providing everything needed to establish a new childminding business from home. This follows on from the success of the ‘Scottish Rural Childminding Partnership’ established last year, where we sought to recruit, train and establish 100 new childminders in specific remote and rural areas of Scotland.
With further funding from Scottish Government and participating local authorities, the Scottish Childminding Partnership now seeks to further increase the number of childminding businesses, targeting more areas of Scotland where there are currently not enough childminders to meet the level of demand from working families seeking local, high-quality, nurturing and flexible childcare.
Why be a childminder?
Professional childminding is a hugely rewarding career – welcoming children into your home to provide high-quality, nurturing childcare to help them grow and develop.
Childminders come from a wide range of backgrounds, with many choosing to join the profession to start a new career which enables them to combine running a business with caring for their own children.
Would you like...
to work with children and support families in your local community?
a new career that fits around you and caring for your own family?
to contribute to children’s development, learning and wellbeing?
to run your own business from home?
Yes? Then professional childminding could be a fantastic new opportunity for you!
My friends and family always encouraged me to think about working with children. They kept saying I’d be really good at it and it was always something I thought I might try but I had no idea how to get started. My previous roles had included being a hairdresser and working in an opticians - I had no experience of the childcare sector whatsoever. I saw the advert and it was like a lightbulb moment – I was so excited because something just clicked, and I knew this was right for me.
I cannot believe how much has changed in the relatively short space of time since I first saw that advert – in just six months I have a completely new career, I’m self-employed and running my own business. Working with children is something that I knew I would love and I’m delighted that I finally found my route into this!
Read Linsey's story here
Linsey Paul, who established her business in Highland last year after seeing an advert to become a childminder as part of the Scottish Rural Childminding Partnership.
I felt so supported by the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) throughout the registration process.
For example, if I needed guidance with any policies and procedures, or advice on the insurance I would require to work as a childminder in my own home – SCMA was there every step of the way. I was even provided with the details of an SCMA childminding support officer who I could contact with questions and for one-to-one support.
Read Skye's story here
Skye Jolly, a former participant on the recruitment programme who has now successfully opened her new childminding business
Dedicated support and training
All participants who successfully enrol onto this childminder recruitment programme will benefit from:
FREE induction training, one-to-one support and your first year of SCMA membership
All participants on the project will be enrolled onto
SCMA's induction training, which will guide you through every stage of the registration process and establishing your business. You will also be assigned a dedicated member of the SCMA team who will provide one-to-one support, every step of the way.
In addition, once induction has been completed and you are fully registered with the Care Inspectorate, you will automatically qualify for a full year of free membership with SCMA, which entitles you to a whole range of
exclusive benefits.
FREE start-up package of three childminding-specific training courses
Once induction training has been completed and you have applied for registration with the Care Inspectorate, you will have access to the following three e-learning courses from SCMA to help equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to build a successful career in childminding.
£750* Business Start-Up Grant *
Once you have completed your induction training and are fully registered with the Care Inspectorate you are likely to want to start purchasing equipment and resources and making adjustments to enable you to establish your childcare setting from home. Your start-up grant will enable you to be reimbursed for some of these purchases.**
* Minimum amount, the value of the grant may vary in some local authority areas.
** Conditions apply and proof of purchase will be required before any reimbursements can be made, for further details please see FAQ below.
Who can apply?
If you can evidence that you have the legal right to live and work in the UK, currently live in one of the target areas listed below and are able to commit to establishing your new childminding business over the coming months, please register your interest by
completing the enquiry form. Please note that some local authority areas may have further eligibility criteria - more details will be provided once you have been in touch.
Note: If you are interested in becoming a childminder but your area isn’t listed, please email
childminder-recruitment@childminding.org as there may be other sources of funding available to help you on your journey.
FAQs
Who is running this campaign and how is it being funded?
This is a targeted recruitment campaign to grow the childminding workforce in areas of Scotland which have been identified as having no or not enough childminders to support working families. The campaign is being led and managed by Scottish Childminding Association, with funding from Scottish Government and a number of participating local authorities and agencies.
Who can apply?
You are welcome to register your interest to join this childminder recruitment programme if you:
live in one of the local authorities listed and, where appropriate, within one of the specific communities being targeted
can evidence that you have the legal right to live and work in the UK and
are able to commit to establishing your new childminding business within the next few months.
Please
submit your details using the enquiry form. Some local authority areas may have further eligibility criteria and we will provide more details once you have been in touch.
Please note that, as a regulated workforce, all childminders must register with the Care Inspectorate. Details of this process (including Disclosure check) can be found within our ‘Becoming a childminder’ step-by-step guide.
Do I need any specific qualifications to become a childminder?
There are no specific professional qualifications needed to become a childminder, but there will be induction training to complete and an ongoing requirement for 12 hours of continued professional learning (CPL) per year to ensure the high quality of your childminding business. It is also essential that you have a passion for working with and supporting the learning and development of children.
Please note that, as a regulated workforce, all childminders must register with the Care Inspectorate. Details of this process (including Disclosure check) can be found within our ‘Becoming a childminder’ step-by-step guide, which you will receive by email once you have registered your interest via the enquiry form.
I live in one of the local authority areas, but not within one of the named communities - can I still apply?
If your community / area is not listed as a target and you are interested in becoming a childminder, there may still be other sources of funding available to help you on your journey. Please email
childminder-recruitment@childminding.org and we will be in touch.
What can the Business Start-up Grant be used for and when will I receive this?
Once you have completed your registration with the Care Inspectorate and HMRC, it is likely you will want to start purchasing essential equipment, business stationery and make any adjustments to your home (if needed) to be able to establish your high quality, nurturing childminding setting. This is where the Business Start-Up Grant will help, as you can be reimbursed for purchases up to the value of the grant. Proof of purchase will be required.
Home adaptations that would be covered by the grant may include the installation of appropriate smoke alarms, replacement of non-suitable doors, garden security, replacement of glass and handrails. Examples of equipment include home safety equipment, a first-aid kit, fireguards and stair gates, toys, books, double buggy, arts and craft materials, outside toys and equipment. Further details will be provided.
How long will it take to become a childminder?
Once you have submitted your application for registration with the Care Inspectorate, it will generally take a minimum of three months to establish your new childminding business.
How can I find out more about what it’s like to be a childminder?
Professional childminders come from all walks of life and a huge range of different backgrounds, often having successful careers in other areas before making the switch to childminding. It is this variety which brings a rich range of diversity and experience to childminding which can inform day-to-day practice. For further information, please visit our main
Become a childminder webpage where you’ll find videos and FAQs.
Thank you to all funders and partners involved in the Scottish Childminding Partnership