SCMA has published another major report on funded ELC and the childminding workforce.

Graeme McAlister, Chief Executive of SCMA, said: “While these workforce signs are positive, it should be clear that the current level of new registrations is too low and the level of cancellations too high to be sustained, that we need to build on these small signs of recovery which have been created and to drive this at pace and scale.

“Childminders have an important role to play in supporting children, families and communities and an increasing number of national policy agendas including ELC, school-age childcare, remote and islands, community and economic development, parental employment and child poverty.

“This has been recognised by the Scottish Government through the creation of the Programme for Scotland’s Childminding Future and it is vital that this work continues along with the delivery of the Shared Inspection Framework by the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland to make quality assurance more proportionate and specific to childminding, and with a reduction in paperwork.

Read more about our Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Audit 2024 HERE

Reports

An overview (by local authority) of childminders providing funded ELC hours to eligible two, three and four-year olds in Scotland

ELC Audit 2021 FULL REPORT ELC Audit 2022 FULL REPORT ELC Audit 2023 FULL REPORT ELC Audit 2024 FULL REPORT

Policy documents

Want to know more? Here's a range of policy and guidance documents relating to funded ELC in Scotland to help you get the detail behind the headlines. SCMA has been involved in the development of ELC guidance from the beginning; representing our members and influencing changes at all levels for the benefit of childminding in Scotland.

Health and Social Care Standards Ebook version Health and Social Care Standards Easy Read National Standard for ELC summary for childminders National Standard for ELC Hourly Rate for ELC Providers by Local Authority (2022-23 and 2023-24)

ELC Blogs

Written by members of the SCMA team, these blogs cover a range of topics within the subject of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC). They provide a broad overview of the significance ELC and an in-depth look at the details that matter to childminders.

Growing Childminding in Scotland - from Janine Ryan, Director of Childminding Services at SCMA (December 2019) Professional Growth for You and Your Childminding Business - from Lynne Murray, former Professional Learning Manager at SCMA (January 2020) In the Spotlight | Becoming a professional childminder was the best thing I ever did (June 2021)

ELC News

Find out the latest news on funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and get the updates that matter to you.

Statutory Guidance for Providers of Funded ELC (2021) Action Plan on Childminding – at a glance (2021)

You are entitled to funded ELC that meets the needs of your family. If childminding isn’t available as an option in your area, please contact your local authority, councillor and/or MSP.

ELC Parent Letter Template (Generic) February 2025 ELC Contacts (updated February 2025) Find your MSP