As the school gates get ready to re-open, the flexibility of summer starts to fade, replaced by uniforms, lunchboxes and the daily scramble to get everyone out the door on time. Across Scotland, the search for reliable before-and-after-school childcare is back on.
Michelle Deans, from Irvine in North Ayrshire, is currently preparing to open her new childminding business before schools return in August after becoming the 200th recruit in Scotland. Word has quickly spread locally that Michelle is now a registered childminder, and she's already been “inundated” with requests for childcare spaces, a fantastic start to Michelle’s new career.
Every August, it’s a pattern SCMA see play out across Scotland. Online Google searches for “childminder near me”, “before-and-after-school childcare” and “find a childminder” are at their highest compared to the rest of the year.
Likewise, it’s a popular time for many aspiring childminders who decide to get the ball rolling, with searches for “how to become a childminder” peaking in August for the past two years in a row.
Combined, this is your reminder that this flexible, community-based model of childminding is very much in demand and is one of the most popular types of childminding.
For childminders, this model offers shorter, more predictable hours and can fit around another job, your own children's school day, or simply the working life you want. Here's a realistic look at what a typical morning and afternoon involve, how the hours work, and how a career built around the school day stacks up.
What Childminding Looks Like Before School
For most families, the school day starts well before the bell rings, and that's where a childminder can make all the difference. Many childminders build in an earlier start to fit around parents' commutes and shift patterns – flexibility that nursery care typically can't offer.
A typical morning might involve preparing breakfast and enjoying a calm activity or two, before it's time to head out the door.
Drop-off logistics can be one of the more involved parts of the role, especially for childminders supporting children across more than one school. Planning routes and timings in advance (this could include walking, cycling or taking a car for drop off – whatever works best locally)
What Childminding Looks Like After School
Childminders start their afternoon with the pick-up, often from more than one school or nursery before heading back to their chosen destination and helping children switch gears from the school day to home time.
Every child comes through the door with different needs, depending on their age and how their day has gone. Balancing the needs of a five-year-old after an exhausting day in Primary 1 with those of an eleven-year-old heading to secondary can take a bit of practise.
We spoke to Trisha Atkinson, a childminder in Aberdeenshire, who shared some practical tips on how to keep tired kids engaged after a busy day at school:
“Currently I care for eight children ranging from two- to eight-year-olds. Over the years, you learn that not every child needs to be doing the same thing at the same time. Being flexible and finding activities that can be adapted across ages — sometimes by encouraging older children to take on a helping role — means everyone can engage at their own level.
A strategy I usually apply is involving the children in the planning itself. I have what I call an ‘ideas soup pot’ and whenever a child has an idea about what they’d like to do, it gets added to the pot. I then review this when I come to planning. It means they feel heard, valued and I know I’m planning days and activities they will enjoy.”
Balancing homework with downtime is part of it too, however that works for everyone. While some children want to get their homework out of the way straight away, others need to decompress first with something active or creative until they’re ready.
The day usually ends with a handover to parents: a quick update on how the afternoon went, anything still outstanding, and what's needed for tomorrow.
Building a Business Around Before-and-After-School Care
This way of working suits a particular kind of career. The hours are shorter and more predictable than caring for pre-school-aged children full-time, which makes it a good fit for childminders who want to build their work around school terms, another job, or their own children's school day. One of the biggest benefits for many childminders in providing before and after school as part of their business model is being there for their own children too.
“One big benefit for me is that I spend more quality time with my own boys. We all go out to the beach or the park after school and spend more focused talking during things like snack time - so it means I get to spend that quality time with my own children too.”
It also means the business can flex as your circumstances change. Some childminders offer before-and-after-school care only during term time; others add weekends or holiday cover when it suits them. The choice, deliberately, is yours.
Caroline Stewart, a childminder in Stirling with 18 years' experience, is a good example of just how far this can go. She runs her setting on a term-time-only basis three days a week and often finds herself caring for teachers' children along with her Grandson who is seven, since their school holidays already line up with her own. Some childminders build their whole career around before-and-after-school and term-time care alone, without ever taking on holiday cover or under-5s at all.
What Families Are Looking For
For parents, the appeal is straightforward: affordable, high-quality childcare, close to home, that fits around a working day that private nurseries can't always accommodate. That's especially true in smaller towns and rural or remote communities, where a local childminder can be the difference between a parent taking on more hours and turning them down for lack of childcare nearby.
How To Become a Childminder
To learn more, visit our
website and start your application.
You can also read more on our previously published article:
Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Childminder.
Lastly, if you are wondering how straightforward and supportive the process can be with SCMA, we asked Michelle Deans, the 200th recruit, about her experience:
“I would thoroughly recommend anyone thinking of becoming a childminder to approach SCMA and find out more about the support available to get started including the business start-up grant, they were brilliant at guiding me through the process every step of the way. I love working with children and I can’t wait to get started – I’m really looking forward to providing a much-needed childcare service in the local community while building in flexibility that supports my own family’s needs too.”
FAQs
Can I do this alongside another job?
Yes. Many SCMA childminders build their business around school hours precisely because it works alongside something else — another part-time job, caring for their own children, or both.
Heather, a childminder in Arisaig on Scotland's west coast, balances her new childminding setting with part-time work at the local high school.
How many children can I look after?
Childminders normally care for a maximum of six children at any one time under the age of 16, of whom no more than three are not yet attending primary school and of whom no more than one is under twelve months.
You should also consider your own children, and any children in your household, and their ages – as they are always included within the maximum number of children you can care for at any one time.
What if I don’t get any interest in my area?
We rarely find this an issue for childminders, and as stated earlier, we see demand for childminders all through the year across Scotland. As well as this, you become a part of a supportive network of childminders where you can learn how to grow your business.
Can I offer before-and-after-school care without offering care for under-5s?
Yes — this is entirely your choice. Some childminders choose to specialise in school-age children only, building their whole business model around before-and-after-school (and holiday) care, rather than caring for pre-school-aged children.
What hours would I typically work?
It's entirely up to you. Jackie, a childminder in Dumfries and Galloway, works 8am–5.30pm to give parents full cover around the working day, though she stays flexible with these times when parents need it. Other childminders keep to a tighter before-and-after-school window, for example, 7.30am – 9.00am and then from 2.30pm – 5.30pm or 6.00pm - and nothing more.
Do I have to offer school holiday care too?
No. Whether you offer holiday cover is entirely up to you — some childminders choose to, as an extension of their before-and-after-school model, but it isn't a requirement.
How do I arrange with schools that I (not a parent) will be doing pick-up and drop-off?
Parents will be responsible for informing the school of the collection drop off arrangements but childminders can confirm verbally or provide a note of this in writing in an email to the school, so the school has a note of details, arrangements and phone number at hand should they need to get in touch (for example, due to snow closures).