As you may be aware, SCMA has been working to influence a reduction in the level of paperwork and duplicative quality assurance which had increased under ELC expansion for all childminders (and not just those delivering funded ELC). We would like to update you on two important developments:
Shared Framework Consultation
The Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland are currently consulting on a new draft shared framework to support future inspection of all providers including childminders. The Scottish Government had charged them with doing this and ensuring that this is more specific and proportionate to different forms of childcare provision (including childminding) and results in a major reduction in paperwork. The deadline for submitting comments has been extended until Friday 19 January 2024 given workload pressures being experienced by all at this time.
Childminders are reminded of this consultation and can respond directly
HERE, but we do not expect many to respond individually given the level of detail to be read within the draft document and your own workload at this time. SCMA has been reviewing this document, will be submitting an organisational response on behalf of members and we will share this with members shortly.
Funded Provider Childminders No Longer Required to Self-Evaluate against 'How Good is Our ELC'
SCMA had also previously engaged with the Scottish Government and others regarding duplicative quality assurance which had been resulting in some childminders delivering funded ELC being required to self-evaluate their practice against up to three different frameworks: (the Care Inspectorate’s ‘Quality Framework’, Education Scotland’s ‘How Good is our ELC?’ (HGIOELC) and some local authorities had developed their own).
Following detailed discussion, SCMA was advised by the Scottish Government, just as we broke up for Christmas, that while HGIOELC can be a useful document in supporting their practice, there is no requirement for childminders to self-evaluate their practice against HGIOELC from this time. The letter from the Scottish Government regarding this can be accessed
HERE and states:
“We have discussed the position in relation to the use of HGIOELC with both COSLA and ADES, who have confirmed that while each local authority has autonomy to determine the way in which they conduct their assurance and monitoring activity, in line with the Care Inspectorate requirements, local authorities do not expect childminders to use HGIOELC as part of their self-evaluation process. If a childminder has been instructed to use HGIOELC, they should contact their local authority to seek clarification.
"In terms of on-going inspections by the Care Inspectorate, we would expect childminders to continue to use the Care Inspectorate’s Quality Framework. This is until the implementation of the shared inspection framework, which is currently being developed in partnership by the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland and will provide additional support for self-evaluation. Following its full implementation in September 2024 the shared framework will apply to all early learning and childcare settings, including childminding settings, as well as to school age childcare services."
We appreciate that this change in position may come as a surprise to some childminders, but we believe this a positive development, and hope that it will reduce the workload for funded provider childminders.