The Scottish Government has undertaken an update of the Financial Sustainability Health Check to collect evidence on the sustainability of the childcare sector, in particular in light of the impacts of the costs crisis, workforce pressures and the lasting impacts of the pandemic.

It builds on the evidence and findings from the first Financial Sustainability Health Check published in Summer 2021.

The update has been informed by detailed surveys of childcare providers and analysis of trends in Care Inspectorate registration data.

The findings were published on 31 July 2023 and set out in the Financial Sustainability Health Check of the Childcare Sector in Scotland report. Alongside this a supporting Analysis and Evidence paper has also been published.

The previous Health Check set out a programme of actions to support the long-term sustainability of the sector. The main focus of the Scottish Government’s next steps will be to build on actions already being delivered to maximise their impact.

One of the actions set out in the Health Check commits the Scottish Government to cover the costs of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) membership fees for new entrants to the sector for the remainder of the 2023-24 financial year.

Anyone starting a new role in childcare, including childminders, from 1 August 2023 – 31 March 2024 are eligible to have their membership of the PVG scheme paid by the Scottish Government. To be eligible for this fee waiver, you must be working in a role that requires registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) under the Day Care of Children category, or register as a childminder or childminding assistant with the Care Inspectorate (CI). More information on eligibility and how to apply for the fee waiver is available here:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/pvg-fee-waiver-for-childcare-professionals-letter-from-minister-for-children-young-people-and-keeping-the-promise/

Natalie Don, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping The Promise, has also written to the sector to provide an update about publication and the key actions from the Health Check that will be progressing in the coming months. Download a copy of this: https://soscn.org/downloads/news/letter-to-childcare-sector-on-fshc-publication.pdf