Your guide to childcare

This page explains the different childcare options available within the current restrictions.

The information below shows the restrictions at a national level, however, there are now additional restrictions in place in some areas. Please visit gov.scot for up to date information on local restrictions.

What are my childcare options?

Can I use a registered childminder?

Registered childminders were able to reopen from 3 June, although some may not have reopened, for example, because they have a vulnerable family member at home.

If you don't usually use a registered childminder for your child but you'd like to use one, you should contact them to find out if they have space.

Find out more about using a childminder here.

Can I send my child to nursery?

All registered ELC settings are able to reopen from 15 July onwards, if they choose to. You can find out more about ELC settings reopening here.

Do the new limits on restrictions for meeting other people change the rules for formal childcare?

The restrictions on meeting up with other people have changed, so we can now only meet up with 1 other household in groups of up to 6 people, excluding under 12s. So any under 12s MUST be from within the two households who are meeting. However, this doesn’t affect registered childminders and other early learning and childcare providers as they have their own separate guidance to follow, so these can continue as usual.

What about informal childcare?

Can a member of my extended household look after my children?

Yes, if you’re part of an extended household then any adult in the extended household you are part of can look after your children, even if you don’t live with them. Because you are considered as being one family, they would also be able to have another household around at the same time, as long as there were no more than 6 people. Under 12s do not count towards the total number of people meeting, but do count towards the limit of households who can meet. You can find out more about who can form extended households here.

Can family members or friends from other households look after my child?

Households can now meet up indoors, within some limits. This means that childcare has become much more straightforward, as you can leave your child with a friend, family member, babysitter or nanny to look after, in your home or theirs, provided of course that no-one in the household has coronavirus symptoms.

However, as you can now only meet 1 other household at a time, this means that one household can only look after children from 1 other household at a time. This means that, for example, a grandparent can look after one set of grandchildren in the morning, and another set of grandchildren in the afternoon. However, they shouldn’t look after them both at the same time.

Can a nanny look after my children?

Yes, a nanny can look after your children. However, unless they live with you, a nanny counts as a person from another household. This means that now the rules have changed so that you can only meet up with 1 household at a time, whenever your nanny is around, you should not see other people. For example, your nanny shouldn’t take your children to meet up with their friends at the park. You also shouldn’t have anybody else round to your house while the nanny is there.

Will they still need to physically distance?

If your child is under 12, the person looking after them doesn’t need to distance. However, adults and children 12 and over from different households should stay 2 metres away from each other, unless there’s an emergency – for example, if a child gets hurt and needs help.

My child is over 12, but has additional needs. Do they need to physically distance? Can someone still look after them without physically distancing?

Children with additional needs should follow the physical distancing guidelines appropriate to their physical age where possible, which means 12s and over should physically distance, except in an emergency.

Is there a time limit on how long they can look after my child? Can they stay overnight?

Your child can stay as long as you like, including overnight. However, everyone aged 12 and over will need to maintain physical distancing at all times so it’s important to think the arrangements through and decide whether it’s practical. Our page on meeting up indoors has more information on overnight stays.

Is there a limit to the number of children someone can look after?

You can meet 1 other household at a time. This means that one household, for example, grandparents, can only look after children from 1 other household at one time.

Is it safe for someone else to feed my baby? Or change their nappy?

It’s fine for someone else to feed your baby, however, you should prepare their food in advance to be safe. It’s also fine for someone else to change your baby’s nappy, or help a little one on the potty, as long as they keep everything clean and wash their hands before and after.

If someone else is looking after my child, is there anything I can do to help them stay safe?

Before you leave your child with someone else, make sure they have everything your child will need, such as pre-prepared food and drink, utensils, disposable wipes and a towel. The person looking after your child should of course maintain good hygiene and cleaning measures.

If someone else is looking after my child, can they drive them somewhere in the car?

It’s now okay to give a lift to a child under 12 from another household. You shouldn’t give anyone from another household a lift in your car, or accept a lift from someone from another household, unless it’s essential. If this is the case, try to limit the number of passengers and space out as much as possible and keep the windows open. You shouldn’t share a car with people from more than 1 household at a time. Travel Scotland have further advice on travelling here.

Can I leave a young child with their older brother or sister?

There’s no law about what age your child can be left at home. However, you mustn’t leave a child on their own if they'll be at risk. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) recommends:

babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone
children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time
children under 16 shouldn't be left alone overnight.

The NSPCC website has more advice about deciding when it's safe for a child to be left alone.