SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING THE EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE SECTOR

Plans to grow Scotland’s childminding workforce by 1,000 and provide more support to childminders have been announced.

Backed by more than £1 million of Scottish Government funding, the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) will scale up their successful childminder recruitment pilot programme across the country, starting with 16 local authority areas including Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.

As well as support through the registration process, a £750 start-up grant will be available for newly-registered childminders completing the programme to help set up their new business.

For existing childminders, it will provide more practical assistance and include developing a mentoring scheme – helping to reduce workplace isolation and create networks of support, which will be piloted from January 2025.

**SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING THE EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE SECTOR**

The Scottish Government has announced plans to boost Scotland’s childminding workforce by 1,000.

Commenting, MSP for Renfrewshire North and West and Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Natalie Don, said:

“Childminders provide vital support to children and parents and are an important part of Scotland’s thriving Early Learning and Childcare sector. They also contribute to child poverty reduction by enabling parents to work, seek work or stay in work.

“The support provided by the pilot projects to date has made a real difference for the families they help. This investment will not only help us grow the childminding workforce by 1,000, it will also support existing childminders across the Renfrewshire North and West constituency and beyond, which is essential as we look to increase the workforce.

“More details on the Programme for Scotland’s Childminding Future can be found at www.childminding.org/getstarted.”