Childminding gets positive report

The Care Commission regulates and inspects all care providers

Scotland's first national report on childminders has revealed that almost all parents are happy with the care their youngster receives.

However, the Care Commission has warned that there are some areas where the service could be better.

In order to improve services, it recommends childminders communicate more effectively with parents.

It also says they should only look after the number of children they are registered to care for.

The commission's report added that it was vital they ensure they have a complaints procedure.

Detailed study

More unannounced inspections are being planned by the commission to help monitor standards.

In March last year there were a total of 5,890 registered childminders in Scotland.

Since 2002, the Care Commission has had sole responsibility for their registration and regulation.

The report is the most detailed study of the industry ever produced, with the commission carrying out thousands of inspections, investigating complaints and also speaking to parents.

A modern, family friendly society can be measured by the quality of its childcare Ronnie Hill Care Commission

It found that 97.4% of parents were "happy" or "very happy" with their childminder.

The study, which was carried out in 2004/05, also discovered that overall the quality of service was good, with 78% of childminders needing no intervention from the commission.

Complaints were only upheld against 0.9% of all childminders and legal enforcement action was only taken against 43 poor quality services - including four which were shut down.

Ronnie Hill, the commission's director of children's services regulation, said the study showed youngsters were being cared for in a "positive, happy and nurturing" environment.

He added: "A modern, family friendly society can be measured by the quality of its childcare and in Scotland childminding is a vital part of that provision.

"Our review shows clearly the childminding sector is in good shape."

Anne McNellan, the chief executive of the Scottish Childminding Association, welcomed the report and said: "We are delighted at the high level of satisfaction indicated by parents of their childminding service.

"It will be a real boost to the morale of many dedicated childminders throughout Scotland and should encourage parents who are about to choose a childcare service for their children to have confidence in the quality of childminding."