Childminder fees in Scotland 'rise by 2p' in two years
Jordan Chamberlain
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Childminding fees in Scotland have virtually stayed the same since 2011, a survey from the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) reveals.
The average rate for a childminder in Scotland is now £3.76 per hour, which is only a two penny increase from 2011.
SCMA’s chief executive Maggie Simpson said, ‘There is always news about the increasing cost of childcare but our survey shows that Scottish childminders are doing their best to keep costs down. Childminders must recognise that parents are finding it hard to meet these costs.’
‘Scotland is increasing the number of hours of free early learning, but forthcoming UK welfare changes are going to reduce childcare subsidies,’ she added.
The survey was distributed by email to the association's 4,500 childminder members, and received more than 1,000 responses.
SCMA believes that fees have remained stagnant because of the increasingly competitive environment.
‘Many childminders in Scotland have reported to SCMA that they are losing out on business because of funded pre-school education,’ a SCMA representative said.
Childminders are typically flexible in their hours, which suits parents and their own family commitments. These findings are likely to please families being consistently hit by other rising childcare costs.
SCMA is a national charity that represents over 70 per cent of Scotland’s childminders. It represents Scottish childminders as part of the Early Years Task Force, and looks at how the Government can improve the flexibility of pre-school education to include childminders.
SCMA’s chief executive Maggie Simpson said, ‘There is always news about the increasing cost of childcare but our survey shows that Scottish childminders are doing their best to keep costs down. Childminders must recognise that parents are finding it hard to meet these costs.’‘Scotland is increasing the number of hours of free early learning, but forthcoming UK welfare changes are going to reduce childcare subsidies,’ she added.
The survey was distributed by email to the association's 4,500 childminder members, and received more than 1,000 responses.
SCMA believes that fees have remained stagnant because of the increasingly competitive environment.
‘Many childminders in Scotland have reported to SCMA that they are losing out on business because of funded pre-school education,’ a SCMA representative said.
Childminders are typically flexible in their hours, which suits parents and their own family commitments. These findings are likely to please families being consistently hit by other rising childcare costs.
SCMA is a national charity that represents over 70 per cent of Scotland’s childminders. It represents Scottish childminders as part of the Early Years Task Force, and looks at how the Government can improve the flexibility of pre-school education to include childminders.
