Access to Childminding (A2C) Service
Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) has received funding from the Scottish Government to pilot a funded childcare service in five local authority areas – City of Edinburgh; Dumfries and Galloway; Fife; Midlothian and North Lanarkshire. The service provides funded childcare for school-aged children for between 12 and 16 weeks for approximately 15 to 20 hours per week. The service is divided into two strands.
If you are a parent who needs support with childcare costs because:
- you are about to move from unemployment into employment
- you are struggling to maintain a job, maybe due to reduced hours
- you are trying to increase your working hours but additional childcare costs are a barrier
- you are struggling with childcare costs due to being a student and may have to give up your course
If this could describe you and you live in one of the five pilot areas listed above and you fit into one of the categories below you may qualify for 12-16 weeks childcare for up to 20hrs per week:
- Lone parents
- Large families (3 or more children)
- Families with a child with additional support needs
- Minority ethnic families
- Families where the Mother/main carer is under 25 years of age
Respite
If you are a family with a child with additional support needs you may be able to access respite and we would be happy to discuss your individual needs.
Criteria for Childminders delivering the service:
Professional childminders deliver the service and have to meet specific criteria:
- A minimum of a Grade 4 across all areas inspected by the Care Inspectorate.
- An up-to-date First Aid Certificate.
- An up-to-date Child Protection Certificate.
- A Food Hygiene Certificate.
- Have adequate Public Liability Insurance in place.
- Attend training session with SCMA.
SCMA will carry out all necessary quality checks on the childminders prior to any placements being made. We will have a contract with the childminder for the duration of the placement and payment for the service will be made directly to the childminders.
There will be a short pre-questionnaire and post questionnaire which we will ask you to complete so that we can evaluate the impact of service.
If you would like to discuss this further contact me,
Ruth Sherpa – SCMA Childminding Development Officer (A2C)
Tel: 01506 829933 or 07551 588391 (I am happy to discuss in the evening if arranged in advance)
Email: A2C@childminding.org
More information about SCMA and this service can be found on our website www.childminding.org