Discover the best spring and Easter activities for childminders in 2026, including outdoor nature play, sensory water stations, community outings, seasonal crafts, and social-emotional games for early years.

FOI answer confirms vital impact assessments on childminding workforce have not been conducted. The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) is today calling on HMRC to immediately delay the implementation of Making Tax Digital (and intended changes to the long-established ‘wear and tear’ allowance) for childminders due to be implemented on a phased basis from next month, as it is believed this could significantly increase the administrative burden on and reduce the income of childminders - resulting in the potential loss of thousands of childminding spaces for families in Scotland.

We’re excited to announce the launch of our new project, ‘Neurodiversity and Inclusion in the Childminding Workforce’, which has been developed with Three Sisters Consultancy and will focus on supporting and understanding neurodiversity amongst childminders in Scotland, as well as SCMA staff. This is very much in response to demand from members who have been increasingly contacting us to ask that we produce our materials in more accessible formats to support their neurodivergence.