The Transitional Support Fund has been put in place to ‘help CHILDCARE PROVIDERS in the private and third sectors, meet extra costs incurred to comply with public health guidance in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.’ The guidance for Early Years settings includes maximising the time spent outdoors, to facilitate social distancing and minimise risk of infection.

Childminders are NOT eligible to apply for this support, and to date, NO alternative funding has been made available to childminders to enable them to purchase the essential equipment and resources required to enhance their outdoor areas, ensuring they can deliver an outdoor learning environment during the autumn and winter months ahead.

Many childminders operated throughout lockdown, have provided childcare Hubs from their settings, provided weekend care, whilst also providing ELC places, all of which the government relied so heavily on during lockdown. Childminders are also expected to perform in the same way as all other settings in relation to Care Inspectorate requirements, evaluation and inspection processes, tendering to become partnership providers to deliver ELC, etc. Yet they are simply NOT being recognised at all in the process of being financially supported to continue operating their services. It seems their previous efforts have been quickly forgotten about by the Scottish Government, who clearly think it’s okay to move forward with an undervalued workforce delivering their vision for ELC Expansion in Scotland.