Welcome to SCMA's Topical Issues page. Here we will keep you up-to-date with all current issues surrounding childminding and the Association itself.

SCMA Supports the Which? Kid's Food Campaign 
The Scottish Executive’s Nutritional Guidance for Early Years has been welcomed by Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA).  Childminders and other childcare professionals have a key opportunity to develop positive eating patterns that will benefit today’s children for life.

The guidelines highlight the impact of role models in terms of establishing good food habits as children model their behaviour on observation of others.  This fact in itself, presents an obstacle that parents and child carers continually face.  In order to reinforce the right message with regards to food choices and eating habits, peers, adults and other role models need to be seen to be eating healthily.

With this in mind, SCMA is proud to endorse the Which? Kids’ Food Campaign. Which? believes that food companies are not being responsible in the way that they market food to children.  With children’s TV characters being used to endorse less healthy options and educational resources being sponsored by chocolate brands, children are bombarded with marketing tactics promoting foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar.  The campaign is designed to highlight the tactics used to marketers to promote junk food.

SCMA looks forward to welcoming Which? to the annual conference in October. More information on the Which? Kids’ Food Campaign can be found at www.which.co.uk/kidsfood.

Protecting Children and Young People: The Charter
A leaflet explaining the Children’s Charter and your role in the protection of children and young people has been published by the Scottish Government. You can download a copy of the leaflet from: www.scotland.gov.uk/childrenscharter. A 16 page explanatory booklet is also available from the same address.