We continue to receive a high volume of contact regarding childminders’ concern and frustration that they are not eligible to apply for the Scottish Government’s Transitional Support Fund after officially having being sent information about it - with many of you questioning why childminders cannot apply and also reporting feeling very disillusioned after contributing to the national response to COVID-19 by providing critical childcare for key workers and vulnerable children during lockdown. We have also been asked to provide further clarity regarding this if we can.
Firstly, we understand your concerns and share your frustration.
As we have previously reported, the Transitional Support Fund was initially announced last month. Detail of the fund was then developed by the Scottish Government, shared with us and other providers and it became clear that this is not a sector-wide fund. As such, we understand it is instead targeted at the particular needs of ‘Daycare of Children’ settings (which includes nurseries and other services classed by the Care Inspectorate as ‘Daycare of Children’ settings). This is in response to the significant financial implications of their specific COVID-19 operating guidance including physical adaptations to settings, increased cleaning and additional equipment.
Data has shown that in contrast the financial implications of the latest childminding guidance on childminders’ operating costs has been less (or more modest) in comparison to the higher impact on nurseries and other Daycare of Children settings. This is
not to say that this hasn’t increased operating costs for childminders now or earlier in COVID-19 when there were greater restrictions on capacity and practice.
In parallel, data obtained by SCMA has already shown where financial pressures on childminders have been more significant – most notably in relation to the impact that restrictions on blended care have already had and would have continued to have had it not been confirmed that these will be eased from 10 August. As members will be aware, SCMA acted swiftly on this evidence on childminders’ and parents’ behalf.
Our survey data has also shown that it may take some time for many childminders to recover their normal business models and that they will experience financial pressures as a result of this and may require some financial support to assist their business sustainability. We continue to feed this into national discussions. SCMA had also recognised that some childminders were continuing to be ineligible for new sources of financial support which had been put in place at a Scottish and UK level and we established the Childminding Workforce Support Fund with the Scottish Government to provide some assistance to childminders. This was heavily over-subscribed.
Recognising this, the particular financial pressures experienced by childminders and confirmation of the nature of the Transitional Support Fund, SCMA is in on-going discussion with the Scottish Government regarding further funding for childminding as reported in yesterday’s Scottish Government ELC update:
“The Scottish Government are currently working with SCMA to agree further funding to support childminders, taking account of the demand for Childminding Workforce Support Fund and the range of additional pressures which childminders may face as a result of the public health guidance. More information about that support will be published in the coming weeks”.
While the last few days have proved confusing and frustrating, we believe the most important thing to take from this is that discussions are already happening about further funding for childminding. We will update you.
Graeme McAlister
Chief Executive
5 August 2020