Childminder Pathway
“Childminders have a vital part to play in achieving the ambition of making Scotland the best place to grow-up, providing the best possible outcomes for our children, starting in their early childhood. They provide a unique experience, offering flexible and tailored childcare to meet the needs of different children and families.”
– Clare Hughey (Minister for Children & Young People)
Introduction
Childminders are professional childcare workers who typically operate from their own home in order to provide childcare services for a small number of children.
Becoming a childminder affords opportunity for individuals to contribute towards children’s learning and development, and provide a valuable and important service within their community.
In addition to providing a nurturing, flexible, and tailored childcare experience capable of meeting the varying needs of children and their families, the profession also enables individuals to run a business from their own home, supporting them to earn money whilst working around their own family’s needs.
Although a career in childminding may be highly appealing to a great number of people, it can be difficult to know how to get started, who to contact, and which steps to take.
This page aims to outline the process that prospective childminders can follow in order to become a registered childminder, whilst also highlighting the requirements, criteria, and steps that existing childminders can take towards becoming a ‘funded provider’ working in partnership with their local authority.
Pathway to Childminding
Step 1 – Contact Business Gateway
Launching a business can be a daunting prospect with multiple elements to consider. Business Gateway (Fife) can provide guidance on self-employment, offer business workshops and training, as well as signposting towards information sources, potential grants, and funding. Find out how to make an appointment with Business Gateway, here.
Step 2 – Care Inspectorate Registration
Registration with the Care Inspectorate is essential in order to become a childminder. Following application, the Care Inspectorate will:
- Check references.
- Conduct PVG checks for the applicant, and anyone else living or working within the home.
- Carryout an inspection of the home.
If approved, you will be issued a certificate to confirm that you are a registered childminder. On average, this process takes between 3-6 months to complete. More information on applying to register can be found here.
Please note, the Care Inspectorate registration fee is £28, with an annual continuation fee of £17. As part of the registration process, applicants will become a member of the PVG scheme (£59). Each household member over the age of 16 will undergo a Disclosure Scotland check (£25).
Step 3 – Public Liability Insurance
It is a legal requirement for childminders to have Public Liability Insurance (PLI) in place. PLI helps to cover legal costs and compensation payments that may arise from incidents, injuries, or damages involving children under your care. Therefore, this is necessary to have in place prior to commencement of business.
Step 4 – Scottish Childminding Association Registration (Optional)
The SCMA are Scotland’s only organisation dedicated to supporting all aspects of childminding. Members can receive support throughout every step of their childminding journey, and can access a range of tools, resources, and training opportunities. Click here.
Step 5 – Delivering Funded ELC (Optional)
In August 2020, the Scottish Government increased the number of funded ELC hours for all 3- and 4-year-olds, as well as eligible 2-year-olds from 600 to 1140 hours per year, significantly extending the amount of free early learning and childcare available to families.
Central to this expansion is the ‘Funding Follows the Child’ approach, which places choice in parents’ and carers’ hands, allowing them to access their child’s funded entitlement from any setting who meets the National Standard, has a place available, and is willing to enter into a contract with their local authority.
The National Standard which underpins the approach, provides parents and carers with certainty that settings delivering ‘funded hours’ offer high-quality ELC provision. All providers face the same National Standards for becoming, and continuing to be a funded provider.
Fife Council want to ensure that families within Fife have a flexible range of options available when choosing how to access funded ELC for their children. As a result, childminders can apply to become funded providers, delivering funded ELC in their homes for eligible 2-year-olds, and/or 3 and 4-year-olds on behalf of Fife Council.
The National Standards set out the minimum criteria required for all providers, including childminders, to be eligible to deliver funded ELC. These criteria are outlined in the Scottish Government summary below:
If you wish to apply to become a funded provider, please consult the application page, here.
