Question reference: S5W-31666
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 8 September 2020
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 9 September 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support childminders who have been unable to access financial support through current support schemes.
Answer
Childminders have played an important role throughout the pandemic, many remained open to support critical childcare for key workers and vulnerable children. The challenges faced during this period, by those who remained open and those who closed, are not underestimated.
The Scottish Government recognises that some childminders have not been able to access financial support through other routes.
That is why the Scottish Government is providing additional funding of £390,000 to the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) for an extension of the Childminding Workforce Support Fund which initially opened for applications in July 2020. This includes covering the costs of administering the fund up to £60,000.
The funding will offer grants of £350 to eligible childminders who are experiencing hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring that childminders are a valued and ever stronger part of Team ELC. To ensure, as we progress in the recovery, that the challenges childminders face are recognised we will continue to take action collaboratively to strengthen their future position. To that end, we will also be bringing forward a detailed Scottish Government action plan focussed on achieving that goal.