Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Pilot scheme on lookout for bank of childminders
The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) is seeking a bank of childminders in Monklands to match with the parents and carers of school age children who are looking to get back into employment.
The “Access to Childminding” (A2C) service received £250,000 of funding from the Scottish Government’s Access to Childcare Fund, announced within the School Age Childcare Progress Report earlier this year, and aims to help move more parents and carers into employment by matching them with professional childminders in their area who can provide flexible childcare, before and after school.
The scheme is being piloted initially in North Lanarkshire, City of Edinburgh, Dumfries & Galloway and Fife and Midlothian, with the aim of it becoming more widely available across the country.
A2C aims to help increase household income and families will benefit from highquality, flexible childcare provided locally. In turn, it can help childminders to increase their business sustainability by providing access to new families who may have been unaware of how flexible childminding can support their family life.
SCMA is seeking around 100 childminders across the five pilot areas to take part, who have capacity within their setting to provide before and after school care.
Janine Ryan, head of childminding services at SCMA, said: “One of the barriers to parents being able to move into employment is being able to find affordable childcare locally.
“We believe A2C will really support that initial step into employment for parents with school age children – and they’ll have peace of mind that their child is receiving professional, high-quality and nurturing childcare, while they take that exciting step back into work.
“A2C is also a fresh, new business opportunity for childminders in North Lanarkshire who wish to take part.
“It provides the potential for them to enhance their service by introducing new families who may not otherwise have considered using a childminder.
“We would really love to hear from childminders who would like to give it a try, and from parents who think it might help to support them.”
Funded placements are offered for up to 12 weeks for before and after school care during term-time, as well as during holiday periods
This initial time period provides a realistic window for children, families and childminders to develop relationships and helps build a foundation for long-term support.
The 12-week period also offers a bridge while parents settle into their new job, receive a salary and become eligible to apply for childcare benefits, where appropriate.
It is also anticipated that the parent could continue the placement with the childminder once the funding ends, as they will be able to make the payments themselves once they are receiving a regular income.
Janine continued: “Ninety-two per cent of childminders achieve ‘good’ or above across all quality ratings at inspection by the Care Inspectorate.
“Evidence has shown childminding can enhance a child’s early learning, confidence and their social development.
“There are many parents who may be new to this form of childcare and may not be familiar with its benefits – but the A2C project provides a unique opportunity to sample how using a local childminder could really help to support them to take that step back into work, whilst providing a safe, reliable, home-from-home childcare environment for their children.”
Childminders, parents and referral agencies who are interested in finding out more about the project can visit childminding.org/access-to-childminding or email a2c@childminding.org