Q: I am currently closed, when can I re-open?
The First Minister has announced that all childminding settings can re-open from Wednesday 3 June.
Guidance to support this is currently being developed by the Care Inspectorate and Health Protection Scotland and will be published on Monday 1 June. This is expected to be based upon increased hygiene measures, small group working and physical distancing of adults.
It is also expected that this guidance will provide details of the capacity which settings will be able to operate at and if any changes to practice will be required.
We will continue to keep members updated as further details emerge.
Q: When we re-open, will there be restrictions on capacity?
Yes, we anticipate there will be restrictions on capacity.
New guidance is being developed by the Care Inspectorate and Health Protection Scotland which will clarify this as well as hygiene standards, social distancing requirements etc. This guidance will be published on Monday 1 June and we will share this as soon as it is available.
Q. When we re-open, what new guidance will I need to follow to ensure I am operating my childminding practice safely?
The Care Inspectorate and Health Protection Scotland are due to publish guidance on Monday 1 June which will help to clarify the procedures that should be followed for re-opening, as well as any restrictions on numbers etc.
We anticipate the guidance will include:
• 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.
It is important that individual settings take the time they need to implement measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the setting, and to prepare to welcome back children and families.
More detail and information will follow when this guidance is published in full, and we will update childminders in Scotland as soon as it is available.
Q: The parents of some children I mind have been asked by their employer to go back to work. They are not key workers, but can I look after their children?
The First Minister has announced that all childminding settings can re-open from Wednesday 3 June.
However, there will be restrictions on capacity.
New guidance developed by the Care Inspectorate and Health Protection Scotland will be available from Monday 1 June and will provide clarity on numbers and any other measures that will need to be put in place to enable re-opening, such as hygiene standards and social distancing.
We will continue to keep members updated as further details emerge.
Q: Do all childminding settings have to re-open during phase one?
No, settings are not required to re-open. The decision to re-open is a personal one, entirely voluntary and you must do what is right for your health and wellbeing and that of your family (particularly if you are shielding and/or you or a family member has a pre-existing condition).
We recognise there may be financial pressures associated with remaining closed and we are in on-going discussion with the Scottish Government regarding this. Alongside the publication of public health guidance on 1 June, it is our understanding that the Scottish Government will clarify what funding childminders can continue to access if either remaining closed or only re-opening partially.
We are also involved in on-going wider discussions across the sector looking at the financial sustainability of all types of provider settings and what support may be required in the future.
For those who choose to re-open there is also no expectation that your setting must re-open on 3 June, this is just the starting date from when childminding settings are allowed to re-open.
It is important to take the time you need to read and digest the new guidance (which will be published on 1 June), to implement measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the setting, and to prepare to welcome back children and families.
Q. Now that my service is closed, can I charge any fees to parents?
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 on 30 March 2020. The full statement is available on our website
here.
Q: What financial support is available to me now that I have had to close my childminding business?
A: On 26 March, the Chancellor announced a new Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
This will enable the self-employed who earn up to £50,000 profit a year, to receive 80% of their profits per month (up to a max £2500, for three months).
To be eligible for this, you need to meet the following criteria:
- have submitted your Income Tax Self-Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018-19
- traded in the tax year 2019-20
- are trading when you apply, or would be except for COVID-19
- intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020-21
- have lost trading profits due to COVID-19
HMRC will be in contact with you directly regarding the application process, but in the meantime further information can be found
here.
Q: I usually provide childcare for the children of a parent who attends college. Will I still be paid by the college?
It has been agreed with the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Government that:
• where childcare providers are still open and the student’s child/ren are continuing to attend (they may meet the Government’s criteria for being able to continue to do so), then, yes, colleges should continue to pay these childcare costs
• where childcare providers are closed, or not available to the student’s child/ren any more (if they do not meet the Government’s criteria for being able to continue to do so), but the student has provided evidence to the college that the providers are requesting that all or some of the fees are still due as part of their standard COVID-19 fees policy then, yes, colleges should continue to pay these childcare costs.
SCMA has produced a
template that childminders can use to get in touch with the college. To access this and further information, please
click here.
PLEASE NOTE: we have received some reports indicating that there is a lack of clarity with some colleges, regarding cases where notice may already have been served. We have shared this information with the Scottish Funding Council and will update members as soon as we can.
We are also working to clarify the position with university students
Q. Guidance states that settings supporting key worker families and/or vulnerable children should limit their support to no more than two families (excluding their own). Does this relate to only two families in total or two families at any one time?
The Scottish Government has confirmed that this relates to no more than children from two families (in addition to the childminder’s) at any one time.
Where childminders are working with more than two families over the course of the week, this can continue and it would be sensible for them to consider additional cleaning measures to reduce the risk of transmission via surfaces and equipment.
Operational public health advice will be available shortly to support childminding and educational settings remaining open to support families of key workers and vulnerable children.
Q. As a childminder, do I require to use any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) within my setting?
For questions and concerns about the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), We would refer childminders to the latest
Coronavirus (COVID-19): physical distancing in education and childcare settings guidance from the Scottish Government.
Q. I am a childminder providing childcare for children of key workers. Can I arrange a test for Coronavirus?
Childminders providing support for children of key workers are eligible to arrange a test for Coronavirus, but only if you, or a member of your family are ‘symptomatic’ – which means experiencing symptoms of the virus.
A new self-referral portal is available online, established to improve the process of booking tests https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk
If you (or anyone in your household) is experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, however mild, you should self-isolate at home. If this is the case, your service should be closed with immediate effect to limit the spread of infection.
Q. I am currently self-isolating and I can’t operate my childminding service because I have symptoms of Coronavirus – why is a test useful?
Current advice states that anyone developing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, however mild, should stay at home for 7 days from the onset of symptoms. In addition, it is recommended that anyone living in the same household as a symptomatic person should self-isolate for 14 days.
However, the new widening of access to testing allows people experiencing symptoms to know if they have the virus or not, which helps to keep essential services running. Information on COVID-19 can be found on NHS Inform and Health Protection Scotland and in the Information and Guidance for Non Healthcare Settings.
Q: What is meant by the term ‘key worker’?
Key workers are those in posts which ensure that essential services can be delivered and cover tasks within the local community which support the vulnerable and aid community resilience.
This may be slightly different in each community to allow the country to address local priorities. Whilst decisions will be taken at the local level, we would expect this to include consideration of:
· Category 1 – Health and Care workers directly supporting COVID response, and associated staff; Health and Care workers supporting life threatening emergency work, as well as critical primary and community care provision; Energy suppliers.
· Category 2 – All other Health and Care workers, and wider public sector workers providing emergency/critical welfare services (e.g. Fire, Police, Prisons, Social Workers, etc.) without whom serious damage to the welfare of the people of Scotland could be caused.
· Category 3 – All workers without whom there could be a significant impact on Scotland (but where the response to Covid-19, or the ability to perform essential tasks to keep the country running, would not be severely compromised).
Q: Will all key workers qualify for critical childcare and learning provision?
The Scottish Government has told local authorities that, if one parent is a key worker and the other is not, the non-key worker should normally be expected to provide childcare. If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
In general, it is expected that if key workers can perform their critical functions effectively when working remotely from home, they should do so.
Most local authorities have set criteria in relation to their definitions of keyworkers and eligibility for critical childcare, and some may take into account extenuating circumstances. As such, the allocation of critical childcare is subject to local decision making.
Official advice and guidance from the Scottish Government is available here.
Alternative childcare arrangements that can be put in place before seeking critical childcare and learning provision should be considered; however, if the non-key worker parent is unable to provide childcare at home, they should contact their local authority to see if they can apply for emergency childcare and whether there are spaces available.
Q: How do I sign up to provide emergency childcare to key workers?
Where possible, critical provision should be delivered as part of a coordinated local authority-led emergency response. The latest guidance on
critical childcare provision for keyworkers is available here.
Please contact the
Early Years Team at your local authority to find out about the arrangements they are putting in place.
Q: How do I get paid for emergency childcare for key workers?
Please contact the
Early Years Team at your local authority for guidance on this.
Q: I currently mind children of key workers. If they need additional childcare hours, will this continue to be a private arrangement, or will there be funding to support this?
Please contact the Early Years Team at your local authority for guidance on this.
Q: I am a childminder with a pre-existing health condition – should I remain open?
A: If a childminder has a pre-existing health condition they should be following the advice for the wider population and self-isolating.
We understand the concern of potential loss of income, and that this could cause you to hesitate, but anyone with pre-existing conditions is strongly advised to follow current Scottish Government guidance on self-isolation
In addition, all childminders should have received an email from the Minister for Children and Young People via the Care Inspectorate, and SCMA strongly advises members and other childminders to comply with this guidance.
From 25 March 2020, the Scottish Government has stated:
· all childminding settings in Scotland are strongly advised to close until further notice unless they are supporting families of key workers and/or vulnerable children;
· those settings supporting families of key workers and/or vulnerable children should limit their support to no more than two families (excluding the childminder’s own family) to minimise the risk of the spread of infection;
Q. I employ assistants - how do I get financial support for my employees when the setting is closed?
Where it is possible to furlough rather than make an employee redundant, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced on 20 March 2020 that the Government is to pay 80% of wages for employees unable to work due the coronavirus pandemic, up to £2,500 a month.
The Coronavirus Retention Scheme will be relevant to any childcare provider employing staff who has had to close their setting or is at risk of making their staff redundant due to the Coronavirus. Any employer in the country – small or large, charitable or non-profit – will be eligible for the scheme.
Q: If I need to exclude a child or close my childminding setting entirely, would I be covered if a parent seeks compensation for having to seek alternative childcare, or for their own loss of earnings?
Your PLI policy would not cover you for compensation. We know that childminders are dedicated to working closely with families to provide flexible, childcare. Recognising the unique nature of this particular situation, SCMA would recommend that childminders and parents should be supportive by exploring if compromise arrangements can be reached which does not adversely affect the childminder or parents.
Q: We are being told that anyone with symptoms must self–isolate for seven days. Is this just for adults? Coughs and colds are very common in children.
It has been announced by the UK/Scottish Government that as of 16 March anyone developing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, however mild, should stay at home for 7 days from the onset of symptoms.
In addition, it is now recommended that anyone living in the same household as a symptomatic person should self-isolate for 14 days.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of a new continuous cough and/or high temperature.
Information on COVID-19 can be found on NHS Inform and Health Protection Scotland and in the Information and Guidance for Non Healthcare Settings.
Q: If a parent / close friend / family member of a child in my setting is showing symptoms, should I not allow the child to come to my childminding setting?
It has been announced by the UK/Scottish Government that as of 16 March anyone developing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, however mild, should stay at home for 7 days from the onset of symptoms as per existing advice. In addition, it is now recommended that anyone living in the same household as a symptomatic person should self-isolate for 14 days after the first household member first gets symptoms. This applies to both children and adults.
Based on the latest guidance in Scotland, childminders should not allow a child into their setting if they know the child has symptoms, or if the rest of the child’s family are self-isolating.
Childminders should also not remain open if there is an outbreak in their setting or within their own family. Self-isolation as-per current advice would be required. For more information on self-isolation, visit NHS Inform
Further information can be found in Section 1 of the Information and Guidance for Non Healthcare Settings.
Q. Will the expansion of funded ELC be going ahead in August 2020?
The Scottish Government has confirmed that it has temporarily suspended the statutory duty on local authorities which would have required the 1140 hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) to be available for parents by August 2020.
This has been in recognition of the fact that local authorities face legal commitments in implementing ELC which could not be delivered at this time when the country is affected by the coronavirus outbreak and national and local government efforts are required to respond to this crisis.
For clarity, this is understood just to be a temporary suspension of the legal timescale and a revised timescale will be agreed once the coronavirus situation has passed.
The Scottish Government has stated that it is their expectation that existing contracts and those planned to run from August will still do so. Early feedback from a number of local authorities has also suggested that they are trying to proceed as much as possible with their plans for ELC
Read the latest information from the Parent Club website
Q. Can I take my minded children outside to play, even if it is out with my own garden?
Due to the current restrictions and the clear instructions to stay at home as much as possible, it is not advised that you leave your own garden or private outdoor space, to keep in line with guidance from the government.
Using your private outdoor spaces attached to your settings, where possible, is the best way to spend time in the great outdoors to benefit their wellbeing. Engaging in active play, is good for the mental and physical health of all children – and this exercise and time spent outdoors is especially important to maintain during the COVID-19 restrictions, which we know may cause high levels of stress and anxiety to children, and it also gives you greater flexibility with social distancing measures.
Q. Is there any interruption to the nursery milk scheme?
The new Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme was due to coincide with the expansion of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) in August 2020 and replace the existing UK Nursery Milk Scheme.
However, as the planned expansion plans for funded ELC have been paused due to the current coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Government has agreed to also delay the rollout of the new milk and healthy snack scheme.
This will not impact on childminding services that already use the current UK Nursery Milk Scheme, as this will remain in place as usual to deliver the milk provision to childcare settings across Scotland.
Read more
Q: What is happening with SCMA network meetings, training and events?
SCMA has temporarily suspended all external training and Network Meetings with immediate effect. Our popular ‘Childminding Day’ event at Blair Drummond Safari Park on Sunday 10 May is also postponed.
At this time, we are still anticipating that the SCMA Annual Conference, ‘Making a Difference’ will go ahead on Saturday 3 October in Dunfermline and we will notify you when bookings go live.
Q. Can I still order business aids from SCMA?
Yes, you can still call us to order from our range of business aids, or visit our online shop via the
Membership Dashboard. However, please be aware that due to the latest COVID-19 restrictions we are currently unable to issue your order at this time.
Any orders you place with us will be posted to you as soon as we have confirmation that the lockdown has ended. Thank you for your understanding.