Half of Scottish childminders ‘will run out of cash in six months’

Almost half of all childminders in Scotland say they will not be financially viable in six months without state support, a new survey has found.

The Scottish Childminders Association polled 900 people working in the sector, and found 46 per cent said they may not be able to last until the spring unless the government steps in. Another 28 per cent said they have run up debt to supplement their income.

Childminders have seen an increase in operating costs since the Covid-19 pandemic began due to the need for extra hygiene measures. Around 80 per cent of those asked also said they have seen a reduction in the number of children in their settings.

Scottish Labour MSP Mary Fee said the figures are “a cause of great concern”, adding: “Scotland’s childminders and the families that they support must not be forgotten in this crisis. The time has come for the Scottish Government to take swift action to see that this sector is protected from the financial shockwaves of the pandemic.”

Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Beatrice Wishart also called for the Scottish Government to step in “meaningfully and urgently”.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “There are significant demands and pressures to support businesses and people all across Scotland who are being impacted. We remain committed to working with the whole childcare sector.”