SCMA has taken the voices of our membership to a Scottish Parliamentary Reception: Protecting Professional Childminding in Scotland so that they could be heard on a national level in relation to funded Early learning and Childcare (ELC).
CLICK HERE to view a film of the event.
Funded ELC in Scotland is changing and together with our membership, SCMA is embracing the change whilst trying to ensure that childminding remains a viable option for the future delivery of ELC. As the voice for childminding in Scotland, 66% of SCMA members have now signed a Mandate for Change asking us to lobby on their behalf to protect their future.
Why?
Well essentially this is explained in the latest ELC Report on the current use of childminding services in Scotland to deliver funded ELC to eligible two year olds. While over 94% of childminders achieve the highest regulated grades, the report highlights that local authorities have only registered just over 10% of childminders in Scotland (approximately 582) as ELC partner providers and a hugely disappointing 2.1% (approximately 114) of those partners are actually delivering ELC with eligible two year olds. Only four childminders are delivering funded ELC to three and four year olds. The professional childminding services of our members may cease to exist unless they are included as partner providers to deliver funded ELC.
The Parliamentary Reception
The reception opened with a short welcome address from our sponsor Fulton MacGregor MSP, who thanked guests for attending and expressed his support for childminders in Scotland. Our Chief Executive, Maggie Simpson, then introduced Mark McDonald MSP, Minister for Childcare and Early Years who addressed the audience on the future of childcare provision in Scotland.
Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Mark McDonald said: “It was a pleasure to attend the reception and hear first-hand from childminders working throughout Scotland.
“This Government is committed to delivering a bright future for our children and ensuring the best possible start in life is key to achieving this. That is why we are almost doubling the current entitlement of free early learning and childcare (ELC) from 600 hours per year to 1140 hours.
“Childminders already play an incredibly important role in supporting families and nurturing our young people. As we begin to deliver the expanded ELC entitlement childminders will only become more essential, especially for younger children.
“Completely transforming the childcare landscape in Scotland is a huge challenge but one that will ultimately benefit the nation for generations to come. I look forward to continuing to engage with SCMA and the sector at events like this as we work together to ensure Scotland is the best place in the world to grow up.”
Following Mark, Maggie again took to the stage to chat about how ELC is changing and highlight more about the national SCMA ELC Campaign to protect professional childminding services in Scotland. Maggie set the scene in relation to ELC and what is being achieved throughout the country. Childminding is probably the least understood service in the childcare sector, often thought of as little more than complimentary to all the other more recognised services. Childminders don’t quite fit – working in their own homes and apparently unable to integrate with other early years services for support or training. However, with over 5,954 childminders in Scotland caring for over 34,220 children, childminding is without doubt and essential early years’ service which needs protected.
Next to address delegates was local Dunfermline childminder Jude Rae, who is currently spearheading a Fife ELC campaign to ensure childminders are considered in funded ELC. Jude talked about her role as a childminder; how the forthcoming changes are affecting her business; the urgency of giving continued choice to parents; and safeguarding childminders in Scotland.
SCMA President, Juliet Hancock followed Jude with an enlightening presentation on raising attainment and the difference that childminders make to ELC, which was well received by the audience.
Our final presenter was Angela Phillips. Angela has been a registered childminder since May 2011. As a parent she understands how precious children are and also how difficult it is to spend time apart from them. At all times we want the best environment for our children to thrive. Angela provides a first class home from home service where children can develop as individuals in a safe and friendly environment. Angela talked about her experience of childminding, especially the Community Childminding Service for children and families at times of difficulty and funded ELC for eligible twos in Glasgow.
The event finished with a question and answer session and we now have a live
Parliamentary Motion supporting childminding in Scotland. What a result!