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 programme undertakes a range of activity to grow the childminding workforce. Backed by a further £1.37m in Scottish Government funding during 2026-27, this April the programme will enter its third year of bringing about positive change for childminding.
To date, 587 candidates have enrolled for SCMA’s Induction Support Programme, provided as part of the programme; of those 157 have so far completed registration with the Care Inspectorate as childminders, and a further 138 have submitted their applications for registration to the Care Inspectorate, with more progressing through.
Taking into consideration those who have completed or applied for registration with the Care Inspectorate (295 in total) this has the potential to create over 2,000 much-needed childminding spaces for families in Scotland (based on an average of 6.9 children per childminding setting, Care Inspectorate, 2025).
Encouragingly, SCMA continues to receive strong interest in becoming a childminder (to date, 4,760 enquiries have been received in response to the national marketing campaign).
PSCF launched recruitment in year one with participation from 17 local authorities, this increased to 30 in year two and SCMA is currently liaising with and finalising participation for year three. Retention measures 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.
Graeme McAlister, Chief Executive, SCMA, said: “SCMA is committed to leading nationally on the development of a sustainable childminding workforce and we’re delighted to see such positive progress in the recruitment of new childminders which is creating much-needed childminding spaces for children and families in communities around Scotland. In parallel, we have been piloting new measures to improve retention such as funded Time Off the Floor. This specific model means childminders can ringfence time for important paperwork or professional learning, without losing income. The retention measures are being trialled to directly address some of the reasons childminders have cited for leaving the profession.”
Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Ms Natalie Don-Innes said:
“I am delighted that the Scottish Government continues to support the SCMA’s Programme for Scotland’s Childminding Future.
“Childminders are an important part of Scotland’s thriving Childcare sector, providing vital support to families, and helping reduce child poverty by enabling parents to work. The Programme is making real progress recruiting new childminders, as well as investigating ways to better support existing professionals.
“I’d like to thank the SCMA and participating local authorities for their efforts widening the reach of the programme and helping to make a difference in communities.”
The package of support available to help recruit new childminders includes a minimum £750 start-up grant, training and being assigned a dedicated SCMA workforce officer 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.
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