Pay & Conditions 2016: The cost of a childminder in Scotland remains fixed

Pay & Conditions 2016: The cost of a childminder in Scotland remains fixed
SCMA reveals the average cost of a childminder in Scotland has remained the same since 2015.

The average hourly rate charged by a childminder in Scotland is £4.08 per hour, according to the recent SCMA Pay & Conditions Survey, which is exactly the same amount recorded in the 2015 survey. 

The rising cost of childcare is something we know affects families and is always a headline in the media. However, this result shows that childminders not only provide a quality, flexible childcare service – but they are also an affordable option for parents.

Every year SCMA asks its members to respond to an online survey and share their current fees, rates and other business-related information.  583 SCMA members responded to the survey this year and their feedback is collect to produce our Pay & Conditions Guide for childminders.

SCMA’s Pay & Conditions Guide is a best practice guide for our self-employed childminder members. SCMA would never set out ‘rules’ for childminders, however many childminders find our Pay and Conditions guide helpful and useful when applying conditions to their own childminding service.

Read the Pay & Conditions Survey Results in full

SCMA members can download our 2016 Pay & Conditions Guide from the Documents section of the Membership Dashboard. Login to the Membership Dashboard


The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging high quality, flexible Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) that is accessible and affordable for all families.  Government-funded ELC places are available for all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds, delivered via local authorities in Scotland.

The aim of funded ELC is to give parents the flexibility they need to organise family life, whilst giving children the best possible start. It also allows parents to get back to work, study or training by supporting their childcare needs.

SCMA is campaigning for more local authorities to recognise and promote the quality, flexible ELC that childminders already provide, and their ability to provide the 600 hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare. Support our ELC campaign

Find a quality childminder
– flexible and affordable - near you with SCMA.