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. With funding provided by Scottish Government and participating local authorities and agencies in order to enhance parental employability, the initiative is being led and managed by SCMA through the Scottish Childminding Partnership.

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 and SCMA will support you at every stage.

Once you have submitted your application for registration with the Care Inspectorate, it will generally take around three months to register your new childminding business. The processing of your application will be dependent on you submitting all of the relevant information for your application to be processed.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a childminder via our supported recruitment programme. Please note that applications are currently invited from Clackmannanshire and Inverclyde areas only at the moment. However, future funding may become available in other areas in the new financial year.  

If you live in another local authority area in Scotland – please visit our Becoming a Childminder webpage to find out more about starting your new career.  

You can also call SCMA Helpline on 01786 449063 to discuss becoming a childminder with one of our friendly team.

Once you have completed registration with the Care Inspectorate, it is likely you will want to start getting your home ready to establish your high quality, nurturing childminding setting.  This may involve buying equipment and resources and other set-up costs, so you will have access to a Business Start-Up Grant to reimburse you for some purchases - up to the value of the grant. Terms and conditions apply and proof of purchase will be required – all of which we will chat through with you.