In 2024, Scottish Government committed funding for ‘The Programme for Scotland’s Childminding Future’ (PSCF), a three-year national childminder retention and recruitment programme. Delivered by the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA), the PSCF aims to grow the childminding workforce and bring about positive change for families, communities and childminding through the creation of much-needed childminding spaces around Scotland to support parental employment and contribute to child poverty reduction.
A key impact of PSCF in year one is the potential addition of over 1,000 high-quality childcare spaces for children in communities around Scotland, as a result of new childminders recruited. This comprises of 42 newly registered childminders already operating in Scotland as a result of this work, with a further 144 recruits expected to establish new childminding businesses on completion of Care Inspectorate registration.
The childminder recruitment model will now expand to a total of 27 local authority areas in Scotland in year two (increasing from 17 at launch), with the support of a further £1.6m funding from the Scottish Government.
Graeme McAlister, Chief Executive, SCMA said: “Securing commitments from an increasing number of local authorities has enabled expansion of the PSCF and highlights growing confidence in our work, its potential to influence change, and to have a lasting, positive impact for families, communities and the future of childminding in Scotland. Crucially, the availability of additional childcare enables parents to find work and stay in work, and to contribute to child poverty reduction, all across our island, rural and urban communities.”
Year one has been successful in not only growing the number of newly registered childminders, but, through trialling innovative retention measures (Funded Time Off the Floor and Mentoring), which continue during year two, and through providing the whole childminding workforce with access to new tools to assist their practice. These measures aim to improve retention by addressing the reasons childminders had been leaving the workforce.
Local authorities participating in recruitment in year two: Aberdeenshire; Aberdeen City; Argyll & Bute; Clackmannanshire; Dumfries & Galloway; Dundee; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; Edinburgh; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow; Highland; Inverclyde; Midlothian; North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Orkney Islands; Renfrewshire; Scottish Borders; Shetland Islands; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling and West Lothian.
Minister for Children, Young People & The Promise, Natalie Don-Innes, said: “Childminders provide vital support to children and parents and are an important part of Scotland’s thriving childcare sector. Year one of the programme has shown real progress in promoting childminding as a valued and fulfilling career choice and increasing access to the high-quality childcare that childminders provide.
“I’d like to thank the SCMA and participating local authorities for their efforts in widening the reach of this important programme, and I’m delighted that, as well as extending the recruitment activity to more areas, year two will see more childminders getting the opportunity to participate in the funded time off the floor and mentoring pilots.”
SCMA’s model of
childminder recruitment was previously tested in rural, island and urban areas, through which around 100 new childminding businesses were successfully established. It combines a targeted marketing campaign featuring real childminders, promotion of the benefits of a career in childminding, and a package of support, including a minimum £750 start-up grant and fully funded childminding-specific training, to help new childminders establish their business.
In addition, a dedicated SCMA workforce officer is assigned to each candidate to provide expert, one-to-one support through the process of registration with the Care Inspectorate. Personalisation of the process is integral to the progression of candidates, ensuring they feel fully informed about their future career in childminding, and means they are less likely to drop out. In a survey of candidates, 96% said they knew what was expected of them throughout the process.
Jacqueline Madeley is a new childminder in Dumfries and Galloway. She set up her brand-new business with support from the PSCF. She provides all-day care for eight children in Bridge of Dee, near Castle Douglas, across the week - including before and after school.
“Childminding is so worthwhile. I love that I can plan our days around what the children are interested in and that I can choose the hours I work. To anyone who is passionate about working with children – I’d say go for it!”
PSCF retention measures currently being piloted have focused on three key areas: Quality & Learning; Mentoring and Funded Time Off the Floor. Through Quality & Learning, all childminders in Scotland have been provided fully funded professional learning opportunities to support quality improvement, as well as the opportunity to attend online SVQ study support drop-in sessions for those working towards qualifications. All childminders have also received access to a new toolkit resource which supports understanding self-evaluation in relation to national frameworks and guidance and streamlining evidence requirements.
Trialling Funded Time Off the Floor in Aberdeen City, Glasgow, Orkney and Shetland has supported existing childminders with funded time away from their day-to-day business, recognising the need for non-contact time, and freeing up time for continuous professional development, to complete paperwork or spend time on self-evaluation. 5% of childminders have been inspected during their time on the pilot, with all receiving a higher grade than their previous inspection in Key Question Four***, which focuses on the ability to build strong relationships with children and families.
Tammy Knox, a childminder from Orkney, participating in trials of
Funded Time Off the Floor, said: “Being paid as part of these trials has made me feel much more appreciated and worthwhile professionally. This type of work is crucial to running my childminding business, so it feels great that I’m being rewarded for it – when you feel seen and appreciated, it’s makes everything a little bit easier!”
Recognising that the current workforce has a wealth of valuable knowledge and experience which can be passed on to new childminders, trials of Mentoring have been taking place in Aberdeenshire, Argyll & Bute, East Dunbartonshire, Eilean Siar, Edinburgh, North Lanarkshire, Highland and Scottish Borders. Childminders are matched in pairs – offering guidance, support and sharing best practice to help new childminders thrive. The pilot is increasing the confidence of childminders and creating an environment where they feel supported and valued.
Find out more about
becoming a childminder and read about about our childminder workforce retention measures
here.