As of 20 November 2020, 11 local authority areas will enter Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions for a period of three weeks (ending on Friday 11 December). These are – City of Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.  

The current Childminding Services Guidance provides detail about what measures are required within your setting in each level, including Level 4. The guidance highlights the standard protective measures which must be followed by all childminders in all levels, but for those who find themselves within Level 4, some additional enhanced protective measures (mainly around shielding), will now apply.  

At present, even under level 4 restrictions, the intent is that schools and childcare will remain open.  

Please check your postcode area and what level of restriction your local authority area is in by visiting the Scottish Government Postcode Checker. 

For childminders who are now within Level 4 local authority areas, additional enhanced protective measures include:     

• The current advice is that children who are shielding should not attend your setting; however there will be further consideration of how individualised risk assessments might be used to remove barriers to attending.  

• As with Level 3, individualised risk assessments for any setting staff with the highest clinical risk should be in place and updated appropriately. For any childminders or assistants unable to work due to their clinical risk, the Chief Medical Officer will provide a letter similar to a Fit Note.

• Childminding settings should be prepared to engage with enhanced testing where recommended by Incident Management Teams. This may include testing more people who do not have symptoms to support outbreak management.

Finally, the Childminding Services Guidance (of October 30) states that within Level 4 further public health measures could be applied which could affect capacity within your setting. For example, consistent small groups in larger settings and restrictions on blended placements may be considered locally, however the guidance states that going into Level 4 does not automatically result in these measures and that any decisions would be informed by independent advice of local Directors of Public Health. Please be assured that SCMA is engaging with the Scottish Government on this point.  We are aware how important blended placements are to childminders and families; we are also not aware of any evidence highlighting any increase in infection arising from such placements.

Finally, it is important that you continue to be familiar with the Childminder Specific Guidance as local authority areas move in and out of different levels and infection rates change and please continue to refer to our dedicated COVID-19 webpage for frequently asked questions.  

SCMA’s operates a Helpline Monday to Friday, from 10am-4pm, available on 01786 449063.
  
SCMA COVID-19 FAQs | Level 4 Restrictions for Scotland | Parent Club Scotland 

Childminders are not enforcers; however, it’s important to remember that you do have a duty of care for all the children and families using your service, as well as yourself and your own family. In the first instance, we would recommend that you speak with parents to highlight the guidance and what their responsibilities are, as well as your own duties and responsibilities.

You may find it useful to share the Staying Safe, Protecting Others guidance and our Information Sheet for Parents (which is also available as a print or online version, at the top of this page) with parents using your service, as a way of introducing and engaging a conversation. Hopefully, this will urge a change in behaviour, as well as a wider awareness of their actions and how it could impact on their childcare arrangements.

We understand that it can be tricky for childminders to balance this, as you will want to maintain a close, positive relationship with families; however, knowledge of potential non-compliance with the guidance and certainly where there has potentially be a serious breach i.e. a large gathering, this should be reported to the police in the same way any of us have the duty to do so.

In the cases of a private childminding arrangement, ultimately you can make a decision to give notice in line with your contract to cease childcare provision – although this should be a last resort, in order to try and maintain continuity of care for the child.

If you have a funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) arrangement with a family - it’s slightly different - as you have entered into a contract with the local authority, and you don’t want to be penalised for breaching it without a valid reason. In this case, you should first approach the local authority to tell them that you are considering this, and to highlight your concerns. The local authority (as the statutory funder of the provision) will need the opportunity to engage with the parent(s) and yourself to see if there is scope for resolution and/or to consider how to secure a robust alternative placement. 

Childminders should follow the guidance that applies specifically to the area that you live in, regardless of where the children you care for live. For example: if you live, and your childminding setting is in a Level 3 area, you should follow the guidance associated to Level 3. 

It’s important to be familiar and access the Childminder Services Guidance, which details the operating procedures for each of the levels and how you should apply this to your setting.   

Face coverings are still not required to be worn while working directly with children, including on the floor or while supporting children to move around the building or with toileting, or as a result of being less than two metres from children.

However, face coverings should now be worn by childminders when in contact with other adults in their setting (such as assistants / parents / carers) in hallways, toilets and kitchens (except when dining) and other confined communal areas where two metre distancing cannot be maintained*. Parents / carers should also wear face coverings at drop-off and pick-up. Please note that childminders should also wear face coverings when collecting / dropping off children from school / nursery.

For more information, please refer to the current guidance on physical distancing measures.  

*except where a person is exempt from wearing a covering. Also, if an assistant is a member of the childminder’s own household (e.g. husband/wife) or extended household (perhaps a single person or relative living separately but who has formed an extended household with the childminder), they are not required to wear a face covering unless in contact with adults from outside the household. 

It is common for colds and similar viral infections to circulate at this time of year, especially as schools and other settings have re-opened. In many cases, children will be well enough to attend your setting; however, where they have quite a heavy cold, a parent / carer may make the decision to keep them at home to recover.

It is important to be clear about how COVID-19 symptoms differ from those of other infections that we normally see circulating at this time of year. For children with potential symptoms COVID-19 (including a new continuous cough, fever/high temperature or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste) they will need to self-isolate and seek a test through NHS Inform.

If, however, a child does not have symptoms of COVID-19 but has other cold-like symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose, they do not need to be tested and can continue to attend school and childcare settings, if they are otherwise well enough to do so. 

Please refer to the latest guidance from Scotland's National Clinical Director, which clarifies the difference between COVID-19 and other common infections. If you are still unsure, please contact your local Health Protection Team.

In addition, as the weather changes a little moving into autumn, it’s important that children are dressed appropriately for outdoor play and learning – particularly if they have a cold. However, it is important to note that the common cold is a viral infection and is not caused by being outdoors. It is also worth remembering that  while there is still a strong emphasis on “maximising” the use of the outdoors, and “as much as possible” - current childminding guidance does not ask childminders move their practice outdoors, or indeed, to greatly change what they already do with their minded children in providing a balance of time indoor and outdoors.

Evidence shows that being outdoors is good for the overall health and wellbeing of children - and we also know that outdoor environments can limit transmission of the virus. Where childminders have access to a garden, they should try to use this space as much as possible across the day.

Childminders should take the necessary precautions to protect children from the elements. This should include suitable clothing, head coverings and sunscreen.

Where childminders use the outdoors frequently there is no expectation, based on the current guidance, for childminders to spend more time outside than they usually would with their mindees. Childminding should already include a good balance of outdoors play, learning and discovery which childminders are encouraged to continue.

The Childminding Services Guidance also does not include any requirement to move current play and learning opportunities outside nor require childminders to buy additional outdoors equipment. Childminders should be reassured that their current childminding practice should support adherence to the guidance which provides detail on a number of requirements including hygiene, infection control and ventilation.  
  
A spokesperson from the Care Inspectorate said: “One of the unique benefits of childminding is the opportunity it presents for children to spend time outdoors taking part in creative activities, energetic play and learning.  These are valuable experiences for children, which childminders have always been very good at providing. The Health and Social Care Standards already include that children should be outdoors every day. 

"The current national guidance encourages childminders to use outdoors space as much as possible. The time that childminders spend outdoors is for the individual childminder to assess in consideration of meeting the needs of individual children and families in ensuring children receive a varied and balanced day”. 

Yes, you can still sing with your mindees.  Children sing naturally in the course of activities and play, and should not be discouraged from doing so.  Singing can also be used to comfort young children when necessary.  However, singing should not be organised as a large group activity, which may happen in larger childminding settings.

As the guidance for all of Scotland is that people should not be meeting indoors, childminders and childminding groups are currently unable to meet as they would normally.

We have received clarification and confirmation from the Scottish Government and the Care Inspectorate that a childminder can meet one other childminder outdoors, providing that all children in their care are under 12 years old.

Under current restrictions, children under 12 years old do not count towards the limit of six people meeting at one time or the total number of households. Young people aged between 12 and 17 can meet up in groups of up to six at a time outdoors and are not subject to the two household limit. 

For further information please refer to the latest guidance on meeting up with others - Staying Safe and Protecting Others

Childminders who wish to attend ‘unregulated organised children’s activities’ such as toddler or parent/carer and baby groups, which are supervised and operating in accordance with the guidance, can do so in the same way a parent and their children would. 

• If attending parent/carer and baby groups (12 months and under), the maximum number of adults who can attend has been set to 10
• For indoor organised activities for children aged over 12 months, the maximum number of adults remains at five.

Please ensure that you are up to date with the current guidance here.

Please note that childminders who wish to arrange activities/meeting up with other childminders are still currently unable to do so indoors as it would be beyond what is permitted under the household meeting guidance. 

In the first instance, please refer to the Childminder Services Guidance, which provides up to date advice in relation to COVID-19, and you can read more about Test and Protect here. Contact NHS Inform by phoning 0800 028 2816 or nhsinform.scot regarding Test and Protect arrangements and to advise on self-isolation.

If you have any additional concerns, contact your local Health Protection Team who can assess the situation and offer advice regarding your setting. Find details of your local Health Protection team here.

Childminders must also notify the Care Inspectorate of any confirmed or suspected outbreak of an infectious disease via Care Inspectorate eForms and may also require to inform the local authority.

Based on the current guidance from the Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland, you should arrange for the child to go home and ensure they are in a well-ventilated area, away from the other children, whilst being appropriately supervised until they are picked up. 

The child should then isolate within their household and book a test (where age appropriate) and follow the Test and Protect guidance. Read more about the guidance for households with possible COVID-19 infection.

The operating guidance for childminding services does not suggest a need for you to close your setting if this happens or inform the parents using your service. However, your local Health Protection Team will give you further guidance, and this may vary in different areas, depending on the prevalence and transmission rate in your area.

Please ensure that you also inform the Care Inspectorate of any confirmed or suspected outbreak of an infectious disease via Care Inspectorate eForms.  

If you or a member of your household has symptoms of COVID-19, you must cease to operate the service and follow the Health Protection Scotland guidance for households with possible COVID-19 infection.

You should also contact the NHS to arrange to be tested at 0800 028 2816 or nhsinform.scot. You can find more information on the COVID-19 Test and Protect webpage.

Childminders must also notify the Care Inspectorate in the event of any confirmed or suspected outbreak of COVID-19, notifications are available through eForms. The childminding service can only resume once the period of isolation is over.

If you or your household have been told to self-isolate, it is important to do so. The Scottish Government has introduced the ‘Self-Isolation Support Grant’ to provide those on low incomes (and meet the criteria) who need to self-isolate with a grant of £500. 

The Self-Isolation Support Grant is offered through the existing Scottish Welfare Fund, administered by local authorities in Scotland. These payments are designed to help ensure people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and their close contacts self-isolate for the required period to stop the onward spread of the virus.

The Self-Isolation Support Grant does not cover people who are self-isolating after returning to the UK from abroad, unless they have tested positive for coronavirus or have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by the Test and Protect Service. 

Read more and find out if you’re eligible and how to apply.

Children under the age of five who are displaying potential coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms will be eligible for testing from Wednesday 22 July.

Throughout the crisis, children under five who displayed potential COVID-19 symptoms were not routinely tested. A test was only carried out if there was a pressing clinical need to do so (for example a young child who needs to be admitted to hospital and whose condition may be due to COVID-19).  

Children aged under five who have COVID-19 symptoms will be eligible for routine testing through all routes including drive-in Regional Testing Centres, Mobile Testing Units and by ordering a home test kit from Wednesday 22 July.  

Visit NHS Inform for further information on Test and Protect.  

Childminders do not need to physically distance from their mindees, nor do the children need to physically distance from each other.  Please refer to the new Childminder Services Guidance.

It has been recognised in the childminding guidance that physical distancing is not desirable or practical for children in childminding settings.  It is important for children to feel secure and receive warmth and physical contact that is appropriate to their needs, in particular when they are receiving personal care.

While adults from different households should practice physical distancing, this is not always possible - for example, when young children are passed between adults at drop-off and pick-up times. Where close contact between two adults must occur, the childminder and parent should both ensure they wear a face mask and thoroughly wash their hands after contact.

Childminders and parents or carers should aim to agree staggered drop off and collection times to minimise contact between families wherever possible.

Childminders are not required to physically distance from their minded children, nor do the children need to physically distance from each other.  This is mainly due to the smaller nature of childminding settings and you should refer to the current Childminder Services Guidance on physical distancing.

It has been recognised in the childminding guidance that physical distancing is not desirable or practical for younger children in childminding settings. For older children, the guidance is less prescriptive as childminding settings can vary widely in terms of spaces, size and capacity.

We would recommend that childminders use their own judgement when managing physical distancing for older children, and they should also consider reducing the risk in other ways for instance by limiting access to their home for parents or carers and physical distancing from other adults who reside in the childminder setting where possible.  Overall it is vital that the needs of the individual child are met and that each child feels secure, safe and comfortable.  

Childminders may wish to have a supply of hand gel available at the entrance to their home for themselves and for older children and parents or carers, assistants, and any other adults in the setting. It is also important that adults continue to practice physical distancing at drop-off and pick-up times.

• To find out what COVID-19 tier your local area is in, please click here and enter your postcode. 
• You may also find it helpful to know what you can and cannot do in Scotland. 

Under the Scottish Government’s new Strategic Framework to support local restrictions (Levels 0-4) the intent is to keep both education and childcare open in all levels. Standing Operating Measures are in place for all levels, and childminders should refer to the Childminding Services Guidance for the measures within each tier. 

For Levels 3 and 4 additional enhanced measures may apply, subject to advice from local Directors of Public Health. Full details of the restrictions and any additional guidance will be available from the Scottish Government following the announcement, which will include the impact (if any) on childcare settings. 

Travel restrictions and quarantine measures at home and abroad are constantly changing – for the most up to date information on travel restrictions in Scotland, UK-wide and abroad, please refer to the latest Scottish Government information.

Anyone travelling anywhere, at home or abroad, must ensure they understand and follow the appropriate guidance, including potentially self-isolating for 14 days before returning to your childminding setting. 

There is currently no requirement to avoid blended placements. 

While recognising that it remains important to minimise the number of contacts and risk of transmission, the current guidance states that the balance of scientific advice supports the use of more settings where required to ensure high quality childcare is available to children and in support of parents’ needs.

For further information please refer to the operating conditions of the current Childminding Guidance.

In short - yes, in some circumstances, dependent on the appropriate risk assessments being in place and reducing the potential for transmission of infection. Reference should be made to both the Childminding Services Guidance and the School Age Childcare guidance. Blended placements within these documents are defined as follows:

• Blended placements in school age childcare is defined as “two or more settings, either in educational establishments, other childcare providers, or the wider community”.

• Blended placements in CSG is defined as “This relates to children attending more than one ELC setting (i.e. nursery and a childminder) and also to where childminders are involved in the provision of out of school care.”

The Childminding Services Guidance states that parents and carers should be encouraged and supported to limit the number of settings their child attends, ideally attending one setting only. However, the guidance also states that the balance of scientific advice supports the use of more settings where required to ensure high quality childcare is available to children and in support of parents’ needs.

It also goes on to include useful guidance to support this including detail regarding aiming to only use the same settings(s) consistently, hygiene measures to be considered for blended placements, confirms that childminders can undertake drop-off and pick up from nurseries and primary schools, and also includes details about record keeping to assist with Test and Protect.

While neither document explicitly sets a maximum on the number of settings, where blended placements are considered necessary to meet parents/carers’ needs for quality, flexible childcare, the guidance does seek to minimise the number of settings involved and to ensure consistency of setting(s) where possible so as to minimise movement between settings and reduce the risk of transmission of infection. 

If it is deemed that there is no alternative to this model in order for the parent to have the flexibility they require for childcare, then all settings should ensure they have carried out the appropriate risk assessment and shown how they are mitigating risk, particularly by limiting contacts for children.  Ideally risk assessments, or relevant information from them, should be shared between settings.

The childminder should ensure she/he has a conversation with the other settings to see how this can best be managed.

Childminders will already be familiar with the on-going self-evaluation procedure with the Care Inspectorate; already having systems and paperwork in place as part of previous self-assessments and updating these regularly. This new question ‘Key Question 5’ is purely an extra element that is specific to COVID-19. 

This additional question is asking you to evaluate how you have been supporting children and families during COVID-19, by gathering information and evidence to support how you have implemented the national guidance for COVID-19, whilst ensuring positive outcomes for children and keeping them safe during this time.

The Care Inspectorate has developed a step-by-step guide to help you with this, and it is very easy to follow, where you will be able to identify and recognise your strengths and possible areas for improvement. The guide also provides a selection of ‘very good’ and ‘weak’ examples to help you when you are reflecting on your own setting and practice. 

Read the Care Inspectorate’s guide to self-evaluation during COVID-19

We would encourage childminders to read the above guide carefully, and then complete the Care Inspectorate’s Key Question 5 Self-Evaluation Tool as soon as possible. This will form part of your on-going and continual self-evaluation.

Download the Key Question 5 Self-Evaluation Tool from the Care Inspectorate

The Care Inspectorate has indicated that from Monday 10 August, some settings may be asked to submit it, but some may not – so it’s best to have it completed, ready and prepared. 

Completed self-evaluations that are requested by the Care Inspectorate will be used to assess how well the setting is managing the COVID-19 situation. Consideration will be made as to whether further scrutiny is required and support on-going improvement.  

Do I need to complete the new Key Question 5 if my setting is closed?
If your setting is closed, you don’t need to conduct self-evaluation. However, if and when you re-open your service, you will need to ensure you are assessing your setting on an on-going basis.

More information is available from the Care Inspectorate, and if you have any specific queries about this, please email information@childminding.org.

Under current guidance, shared resources such as sand, water and playdough can be used as usual with additional cleaning of equipment used, and for larger settings caring for over eight children, should be used only by one cohort of children.

To suppress the spread of COVID-19 it is essential that, with limited exceptions, there is no travel to or from areas where higher numbers of people may be carrying the virus. The Scottish Government guidance states that all childminders must ensure they follow the latest travel guidance.

Where it is necessary to use public transport e.g. to attend a planned health appointment, care must be taken to minimise risk, by travelling out with peak travel times, and ensuring hand washing immediately on arrival at the destination. 

Where childminders offer a pick-up service from a child’s home in their own car, childminders should operate physical distancing from any adults, use alcohol hand gel, and wash their hands thoroughly when they return home.

 

The current guidance is that childminders do not need any additional PPE (including face coverings) whilst working directly with children and they should continue to use their routine PPE – such as gloves for nappy changing or toileting children.

However, from Monday 2 November, face coverings should now be worn by childminders when in contact with other adults in their setting (such as assistants / parents / carers) in hallways, toilets and kitchens (except when dining) and other confined communal areas where two-metre distancing cannot be maintained*. 

Parents / carers should also wear face coverings at drop-off and pick-up. Please note that childminders should also wear face coverings when collecting / dropping off children from school / nursery.

For more information, please refer to the current guidance on physical distancing measures.  

Please refer to the following guidance:
• Childminding Services Guidance
• COVID-19: guidance for non-healthcare settings
• Infection prevention and control in childcare settings


*except where a person is exempt from wearing a covering. Also, if an assistant is a member of the childminder’s own household (e.g. husband/wife) or extended household (perhaps a single person or relative living separately but who has formed an extended household with the childminder), they are not required to wear a face covering unless in contact with adults from outside the household.

Current guidance states that childminders do not need any additional PPE for caring for children and they should continue to use their routine PPE – such as gloves for nappy changing or toileting children.

However, many childminders are experiencing difficulty in sourcing these items due to demand across the country.  

To offer a route to buying PPE for private, voluntary and independent early learning and childcare services, including childminders and out-of-school care, the Scottish Government has set up a framework agreement with third-party supplier Lyreco.

Lyreco offers a range of products to purchase, including face masks, aprons, gloves, visors, hand sanitiser, goggles and safety glasses. All products are subject to availability and prices are updated regularly on the Lyreco website.

If you wish to open an account with Lyreco, please first read the privacy notice, then complete the form, which must include your Care Inspectorate CS number and email it to PPEDirectorate@gov.scot. 

Once your CS number is confirmed as being a registered care service your account will be set up. This may take a few days depending on the volume of forms returned. Lyreco will then give you access to their online ordering site, where you will be able to see the full range of products available and current prices.

Opening an account does not place you under any obligation to place an order.

Please refer to SCMA’s Steps to Re-Opening for an overview of how to go about re-opening your childminding setting. 

Prior to reopening, you must contact the Care Inspectorate to advise of your updated operational status. 

To do this, you must complete a 'Changes to Service Delivery due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)' notification online.  This is a new notification that services must use to inform the Care Inspectorate about changes to how they operate that are specifically related to COVID-19. This is only available through eForms. If you do not update your status, the Care Inspectorate will still consider your service as closed.

The Scottish Government has published current Childminding Services Guidance, which helps to clarify the procedures that should be followed for childminding settings.

The Childminder Services Guidance includes information on:
• enhanced hand hygiene and cleaning practices
• caring for children in small groups
• minimising contact between those groups, where possible
• maximising use of outdoor spaces, where possible
• physical distancing between adults in the setting, including parents at drop-off and pick-up times.

The Care Inspectorate has developed a useful poster for childminders to use to help you keep children and families safe in their settings from the spread of COVID-19. Download the poster here.

In addition, SCMA has produced an information sheet for parents that outlines key infection control measures that childminders will be using within their settings. The aim of this is to reassure parents and set out requirements for childminders to ensure settings meet public health and social distancing guidance during COVID-19. Please us the links below to access:

Download our online information sheet
Download the print version of the information sheet

It should also be noted that all childminders must undertake a risk assessment based on the new guidance before opening and we have created a COVID-19 Risk Assessment Blank Template to assist you with this, available on the 'Resources, Guidance and Documents' section of the Membership Dashboard. 

SCMA is a professional membership organisation and we have around 3800 childminder members in Scotland. We are not a governing body in the sense that we cannot mandate or enforce practice. Instead, we operate within official guidance for childcare and provide a range of support, advice and information to support childminders in their practice and business activities.

The subject of fees and what to charge parents during these exceptional times is an area on which we have received an increasing number of requests to provide advice to members recently. In parallel, we have also received some requests from parents regarding this. In aiming to do this, we fully recognise the individual nature of members’ businesses and that the final decision regarding what to charge is a personal decision. As such, our advice is only suggestive.

Graeme McAlister, Chief Executive of SCMA provided a full statement on the subject of childminder fees and charging parents in March 2020. The full statement is available on our website here.

SCMA initially suspended all external training events and Network Meetings with immediate effect in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we have been developing and using virtual methods for childminders to engage with training and networking events, and these have proved to be successful.

We will continue to roll out more throughout the coming year and will keep you updated. 

SCMA Conference 2020
Our October 2020 conference was re-scheduled to the new date of Saturday 24 April 2021 at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline. This is being kept under review and we will notify members in due course.

All parents and carers are entitled to flexible Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) that meets the needs of their children and family circumstances. Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, local authorities had been working towards 1140 funded hours being available to all three and four year-olds and eligible two year-olds by August 2020. It is still the intention that this commitment from the Scottish Government will be implemented when possible, but given the current situation the statutory obligation to deliver 1140 hours by August has now been removed.

However, children are currently still entitled to up to 600 hours of funded ELC and in some areas, may be able to access up to 1140 hours if capacity and funding allows. Local authorities will keep in touch with parents and carers directly to let them know what is happening in their area.

Parents and carers have the right to choose the type of childcare that best suits their needs based on a provider neutral model.  This means that one provider type should not be promoted over another.

If childminding is not given as an option by your local authority, we would suggest the parent/carer raises this with the local council and MSP. To assist with this, SCMA has developed a template letter and a list of MSPs can be found here.

No, childminding settings are not required to re-open at any specific time, the decision to re-open is a personal one for each childminder and their setting.  

If you choose to re-open your childminding setting, it is important to take the time you need to read and digest the Childminder Services Guidance to help you to implement measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone in your setting, and to prepare to welcome back children and families.

SCMA has developed a 'Steps to Re-Opening’ infographic that highlights the three key steps to re-opening, with some handy pointers to consider and links to further resources and support, and can read more here.

SCMA is very aware of the financial concerns of childminders and we are in regular contact and discussion with Scottish Government regarding what support is needed to protect childminding in Scotland.

SCMA worked with the Scottish Government to launch the Childminding Workforce Support Fund in July, with a second phase launched in October 2020, enabling a further 940 childminders experiencing financial hardship to access small grants of £350.  The Childminding Workforce Support Fund has now closed to new applicants but there may still be other options available to you.   

The UK Government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant Extension has been extended from 1 November 2020, until January 2021 at 70% of average profits. 

Although current guidance states that you should not meet anyone from outside your household socially indoors in your home or their home, there are some limited exceptions to this rule, such as provision of childcare.

Current Scottish Government guidance highlights that grandparents can help to look after children; however, only essential informal childcare is permitted in Level 4 areas. Only children should enter the home of another household.

For further information, please refer to the most recent guidelines on Seeing Friends and Family and the ParentClub website. 

SCMA has been working with our legal team to review our contracts and to ensure they meet the needs of our members whilst keeping in line with any legal obligations during COVID-19 and we will keep members up-to-date with any developments. 

Alongside this, SCMA met with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to discuss contracts, consumer cancellations and refunds - and you can read more here.

SCMA members may be aware that the union, UNITE, has established a childminding branch in Scotland. For clarity, the UNITE branch is not connected with SCMA – both are separate, independent organisations.  

Individuals can choose to join as many membership organisations as they wish and are eligible to, and where they believe there is value in doing so. Membership of SCMA or UNITE does not affect membership of the other in any way, nor does SCMA need to know if our members are also members of any other organisation. 

SCMA works constructively with a wide range of stakeholders. We received contact from UNITE and offered to meet with them; however, the organisation decided it would prefer not to meet at this time. Our offer to meet to discuss childminding remains open.   

SCMA is the only national organisation in Scotland dedicated to, and specialising in, providing childminding-specific support to childminders in all areas of childminding practice and representing the views and experiences of childminders. We will continue to do so.

SCMA’s insurers are clear that you are covered, so long as you implement the appropriate steps and actions that are set out in government guidance and Health Protection Scotland guidance. This guidance is evolving all the time so you should regularly review this and ensure your systems and procedures are up to date.

As always, we would advise you to keep written records of the steps you have taken in your setting to ensure so far as is practicable, that children and any staff you have remain safe in your care. This would include adequate risk assessments and other appropriate measures put in place to avoid the spread of any infections, including COVID-19. 

SCMA has also produced an information sheet for parents that outlines key infection control measures that childminders will be using within their settings. The aim of this is to reassure parents and set out requirements for childminders to ensure settings meet public health and social distancing guidance during COVID-19. Please use the links below to access:

Download our online information sheet 
Download the print version of our information sheet 

We are also regularly monitoring the guidance and advice being issued in Scotland to ensure members are up to date with any changes.

In the event that a child or member of staff contract COVID-19 whilst at your setting, it will be important to have this documentation to evidence the steps you have taken to ensure safety and compliance with guidelines. This would be key to successfully defending any possible claim.

If you are not insured with SCMA, you need to check any requirements with your chosen insurance provider.

The COVID-19 crisis may have had a significant effect on the mental health and wellbeing of children of all ages.  Childminders continue to provide vital support to children and families – and can play a key role in offering positive support, engagement and activities to help children and young people feel safe, secure and as stable as possible during these unsettling times.  

We’ve collated weblinks to some useful resources and tools you can access to benefit children’s mental health and wellbeing within your childminding setting:

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CAMHS Resources is a great place to start when you’re thinking about mental health and wellbeing – for both you minded children and yourself. CAMHS is able to signpost you to a range of resources designed to help you and young people cope with such stress and uncertainty at this time. 

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The Natural Health Award was launched a few years ago for childminders in the Forth Valley area to encourage and recognise the health benefits of getting outside into nature at an early age, and the importance of being active and leading healthier lives. 

A new COVID-19 version of the Natural Health Award has been developed by NHS Forth Valley for all childminders and families across Scotland to use and focuses on good health and mental wellbeing in the great outdoors where at all possible.  

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Woodland Trust has been sharing ideas to help families keep children engaged and entertained while at home, including 'Nature Detectives' which has activities for nature-loving kids.

It's a fantastic way to discover the wildlife that's right on your doorstep too and includes a range of simple, nature-based activities that you can enjoy together at home, in your garden, or in your local wood. Read more about Nature Detectives from the Woodland Trust

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The Virtual Nature School is a service offered by the non-profit organisation called ‘Living Classrooms’ and they became virtual as a direct response to the needs of families when schools and nurseries were closed due to COVID-19. 

The aim of the Virtual Nature School is to equip early years practitioners with skills to work outdoors with young children through nature-based, inquiry-led learning – whilst providing children with fun, engaging daily activities and interaction with their peers from home. 

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The Parent Club website is a really useful resource from the Scottish Government and is also worth sharing with the parents and carers that use your childminding service. During COVID-19 they have developed a range of resources and tools to support children and you people’s mental health. 

Parent Club has also developed a new content hub on their website (parentclub.scot/startback) which includes information about the new guidelines, a wide range of Q&As and how to support children. 

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Children in Scotland has produced a new resource for teachers and practitioners to support children and young people’s understanding of their wellbeing. Their free resource ‘Improving Children and Young People’s Understanding of their Wellbeing’ aims to provide a hub for information on wellbeing, promote easy and open access to practical tools and information and complement other, existing resources and approaches.

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Salvesen Mindroom Centre has developed a ‘Back to School’ toolkit to support children and young people with learning difficulties as they transition to school.  

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Lucy's Blue Day is a resource that was highlighted to us by some of our members, which is a story about Lucy with magical hair that changes colour with her emotions. At lucysblueday.com you can access a range of videos, free resource and tips - plus a free e-book version of 'Lucy's Blue Day', which is designed to help children realise they’re not alone in the current conditions with COVID-19.

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The Mental Health Foundation has a quick guide that aims to outline the scale of the challenge that pupils and schools are facing, whilst providing practical advice and support for parents, teachers and other practitioners supporting pupils as they prepare to return to school in August. The website also contains other useful publications such as Tips for Parents and Caregivers. 

The wording ‘daycare of children’ is a broad term, and it could be assumed or misinterpreted that childminding settings are included in this classification. However, it is important to note that the legal classification and definition of each type of care service is different.   

The Public Services Reform Act 2010 defines childminders as: “looking after one or more children on domestic premises for reward.”  Alongside this, the Act defines daycare of children services as: “any form of care, supervised by a responsible person and not excepted from this definition by regulations, provided for children, on premises other than domestic premises, during the day.”

We understand this could be confusing and seem conflicting, as childminder do provide care for their minded children throughout the day. However, due to the unique nature of childminding settings being home-based, their classification is different. You can read the definitions in full from the Public Services Reform Act 2010 here.