Wishart calls for action to reverse childminding decline

Shetland MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat Beatrice Wishart has today called on the Scottish Government to take action to reverse a sharp decline in childminding services.

Figures from the Care Inspectorate, analysed by the Press and Journal, reveal that more than a third of Shetland’s overall childcare services have been lost since 2017, and that the islands saw the biggest percentage fall in childminders anywhere in Scotland. Shetland also had the second biggest decline in day care services.

The expansion of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) in 2016 saw staff leave private nurseries and childminding for higher local authority rates, contributing to the fall in numbers.

Commenting on the figures, Ms Wishart said:

“We know that the lack of childcare can reduce parents’ employment opportunities or even result in families having to move away. The lack of access to childcare in rural Scotland was also highlighted by the Cross-Party Group on Poverty in its Inquiry into Rural Poverty published in May 2024.

“Action is needed from the Scottish Government to address the drivers of this decline. The former First Minister promised to close the funding gap between private, voluntary and independent providers and council-run facilities for the 1,140 hours of ELC. The gap is having a direct impact on retention, recruitment and capacity.

“Childminders provides flexible wraparound care which is vital for many families, especially those working shifts, while some parents have told me that their children are more suited to the smaller groups found in childminding settings.

“Last year, the Scottish Government committed to growing the childminding profession by 1,000. It launched a Programme for Scotland’s Childminding Future in June and offers a £750 start-up grant to new childminding businesses. That may encourage more people to consider becoming a professional childminder at home, and help reverse the decline in numbers.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The Cross-Party Group on Poverty’s report on rural poverty can be found here.