The Scottish Government has today (Tuesday 18 December) published the National Standard for funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC).
SCMA has welcomed the publication of the National Standard and its associated operating guidance and commenting on its release Maggie Simpson, Chief Executive of the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) said: “SCMA has worked with the Scottish Government on behalf of our membership to ensure that professional childminding services were recognised and supported within the National Standard and associated guidance.
“As a result, we welcome the publication of the quality criteria within the National Standard which is both realistic and achievable for childminders across Scotland. It reaffirms that the Scottish Government want to ensure that childminding remains central to their ambitions for the expansion of ELC and that local authorities should embrace them within their expansion plans. It brings childminding in line with opportunities already enjoyed by the rest of the ELC workforce.
“The introduction of a minimum qualification requirement for childminders delivering funded ELC will provide further assurance to parents and carers of the quality of their ELC provision. This means that from August 2020, childminders will need to either hold, or be working towards, the same qualification level as other practitioners working in ELC settings which is SCQF Level 7 with at least 75 credits. SCMA is well positioned to assist childminders in working towards this requirement, alongside the 12 hours a year of Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) that is the minimum requirement for funded ELC providers.
“Our hope is that SCMA can now work alongside local authorities as they already do in some areas to assist childminders in achieving the criteria outlined in the National Standard to deliver funded ELC in Scotland and that there is now a shared understanding that childminding is not the same as a group setting.
“Working from their own homes, childminders offer a unique, flexible approach to ELC, looking after small groups of children in a family setting. There is already a robust registration and inspection process in operation by the Care Inspectorate, so with the launch of the National Standard, parents can now rest assured that their children are in the best possible hands receiving high quality childcare services which are graded amongst the highest in Scotland.”
As stated in the National Standard, childminders will continue to register as settings with the Care Inspectorate. The publication of the National Standard and associated guidance now means that:
- There is parity across all funded ELC services in Scotland, including childminders, local authority and private nurseries.
- Parents using their funded hours have consistency and are confident of the provision of services across all settings.
- Childminders have more equality alongside other childcare settings.
- Families across Scotland can expect a consistent, high-quality, approach to ELC provision, reflecting national policy priorities.
- Childminders who provide funded ELC places in partnership with local authorities will have to meet the criteria set out in the National Standard.
- All childminders delivering the funded entitlement are achieving a minimum of 12 hours per year of Continuous Professional Learning.
- All childminders newly registered to deliver ELC within the last year have undertaken appropriate induction.
Regarding induction and as stated in the guidance childminders should be able to evidence that they have undertaken an appropriate induction whether through their local authority, through a national organisation or other channels.
“In the past SCMA has stressed the importance of appropriate induction learning to ensure childminding services get off to the right start - so we are pleased this has been reflected in the National Standard,” added Maggie Simpson. “We have worked closely with the Care Inspectorate to create and deliver our Childminding Induction Support Programme, which is available via e-Learning and Open Badged by the Scottish Social Services Council. This programme includes guidance on setting up and running a business as well as on how to deliver the best outcomes for children which is central to provision of high-quality ELC.
“In relation to childminding we must never lose sight of working together to build confident children within a family childcare experience.”
To find out more about Funding Follows the Child and the National Standard for Early Learning and Childcare Providers: principles and practice, please CLICK HERE.