"The importance of CPL - for you and your childminding business" - Lynne Murray, Professional Learning Manager, SCMA
With the never-ending juggling involved in balancing busy working and personal lives, it can often feel like there is very little time left for Continuous Professional Learning, but it is vitally important for any profession - and childminding is no different!
Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) underpins a high-quality childminding setting and enables childminders to maximise their potential. Investing time and effort in your CPL has many long-term benefits, as it helps to ensure that you are recognised professionally for the high-quality service provided to children and their families, as well as enabling you to develop your range of knowledge and skills, generate new ideas and develop good practice in your childminding setting.
How can SCMA support your professional journey?
SCMA offers a wide range of e-Learning courses, Interactive, Virtual Learning opportunities and Open Badges so opportunities for leaning are varied and always tailored specifically for childminders, including:
For those new to childminding:
- The Business side of Childminding
- Child Protection in a Childminding Setting
- Parental Involvement
For more established childminders:
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) CPL courses, provide useful techniques and ideas to apply STEM activities to your setting
- Curriculum for Excellence
CPL and the delivery of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) funded hours
As you will know, from August 2021 the number of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) hours available to families increased to1140 a year. This provides a fantastic opportunity for professional childminders to meet the need for local, flexible, high-quality childcare and we know that many childminders who are already delivering funded ELC value the contribution towards a sustainable business model.
If you wish to deliver ELC funded hours, you should check with your local authority if they are recruiting 'partner providers'. If so, when registered as a ‘partner provider’ with your local authority and providing you can demonstrate you meet the criteria set out in the
National Standard, you will be able to deliver funded ELC. Visit our
ELC webpages for more information.
Shout about your success!
SCMA encourages all childminders to undertake CPL, whether or not it is linked to delivering ELC funded hours. There are many options available – from brushing up on First Aid, Child Protection, SCMA Network Meetings or taking part in e-Learning and interactive/virtual workshops.
I would encourage childminders to keep a log of all of the training and events attended across the year and to shout about this on your childminding profile. It’s a really key piece of information which will be of interest to parents and families seeking professional childcare and helps to demonstrate a commitment to updating learning and improving professional practice.
Charlene Doull, a childminder from the Shetland Islands told us
“I always wanted to work with children either in a nursery or at home childminding, but the opportunity didn't arise until 2016. At the time, I was a stay-at-home mum with my own two children, aged three and one. Becoming a childminder provided the perfect opportunity to start my own business whilst also enabling me to be there for my little ones.
“I really enjoy being a childminder and I was so delighted to recently complete the Business Side of Childminding, Child Protection in a Childminding Setting and Parental Involvement. Undertaking this training has really helped provide me with a better understanding of these areas, and I feel much more confident about them now.”
Here to help
Whatever stage you are at in your childminding career, you are welcome to contact SCMA to discuss your professional learning needs - no question is too big or small!
SCMA is the only organisation in Scotland dedicated to supporting childminders and the families you work with. We operate a national SCMA Helpline which is open Monday – Friday, 10am - 4pm on
01786 449063.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Learn With SCMA
Become a Childminder