SCMA has been receiving an increasing number of enquiries from members around Scotland following requests from non-key worker parents/carers for childcare, as they have been requested by their employers to return to work from next week or in the next few weeks within social distancing measures.
Members also continue to receive requests for childcare from parents who can work from home but require childcare to support this on a longer-term basis.
We would stress that –
• current guidance on the closure of daycare services for children in light of the COVID-19 restrictions published by the Scottish Government remains in place. This advises that childminding settings can only be open to provide childcare for key workers and vulnerable children and that they do not provide childcare for more than two families (excluding their own families) at any one time
• childminders are reminded that providing childcare for non-key worker families at this time would be contrary to the restrictions which have been put in place to reduce the impact of the virus, keep children and families safe, and save lives; it is also the expectation of the Care Inspectorate that childminders should follow national guidance during this pandemic
• we understand the challenges and pressures being experienced by both parents and childminders and the desire to support each other at this difficult time
• following the publication of last week’s Framework document by the Scottish Government, it is clear that lockdown cannot yet be relaxed and that when this does happen there will not be an immediate return to normal life, with some form of social distancing expected to continue in Scotland for much of the year
• we remain in close contact with the Scottish Government and the Care Inspectorate and will advise all members as soon as there is any change to the national guidance
Graeme McAlister
Chief Executive
1 May 2020