Helping Hands Childcare
in Dumfries and Galloway
Robyn Ross is a childminder living and working in Dumfries.
After working as a primary school teacher for 9 years, and the birth of her second son, Robyn began working part-time in the showroom at her husband’s kitchen and bathroom business. While this provided Robyn with time to work around her own children’s nursery times, she soon started to miss the creativity and job satisfaction that came with working with children.
“I was looking for a change and a better work-life balance. Working in the showroom was great as it allowed me to work around my boy’s school pick-up times and nursery hours, but I really missed aspects of teaching, and started to wonder how I could get back into working with children but with more flexibility around hours. I wanted something that could keep up the work-life balance we had with the boys, and I had already done some research about childminding so knew it was the best option! I knew it could give me what I wanted – to be there for my children before and after school and the opportunity to contribute to children’s learning and development.”
Robyn contacted the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) and found out about a new recruitment pilot delivered by SCMA, Scottish Government and Dumfries and Galloway Council which offered support for those wishing to become a childminder.
“I had a chat with one of the SCMA team for more information and learned that, through the programme, I could receive a grant and online training as well as one-to-one support from SCMA to help register with the Care Inspectorate.”
SCMA staff were always at the end of the phone to help Robyn with any questions she had. There was also further support such as online Q&A sessions that helped Robyn with the application process.
“SCMA were brilliant. I could phone whenever and was always told that no question was too small or too silly.”
Helping Hands Childcare has been up and running since April 2024 and Robyn is really enjoying life as a childminder. As well as the great work-life balance it provides, she enjoys building relationships with families in her community and the child-led nature of childminding.
“Forming relationships with children has always been my favourite thing about working with kids and childminding has meant I have a smaller number of children in my setting so I can really get to know them. And because childminding is so child-led it means I can plan learning activities around what genuinely interests them. I also love that my own kids can benefit from building relationships with other children and that I can be there to watch them grow and develop.”
Becoming a childminder has brought Robyn a great sense of achievement both professionally and personally.
“It feels good being able to bring home an income through a job that is so rewarding. Setting up and running my own business has made me feel more confident and independent, and I love being my own boss. I sometimes sit back and think, ‘Wow! I did that!’”.
Having only been open for less than a year, Robyn has already seen how great a demand there is for childcare and childminders in Dumfries and Galloway.
“When I first opened, I was inundated with messages and calls from parents looking for childcare.”
Between 7am – 9am and 3pm – 6pm, Monday to Thursday, Helping Hands Childcare is there to support families at some of the busiest parts of the day. Robyn provides wrap-around care allowing parents to access flexible childcare before school drop-offs and after pick-up time.
“Working parents are struggling and we definitely need more childminders in Dumfries and Galloway to help them.”
Robyn has felt greatly supported by her fellow childminders in the local community. Many of her hesitations about becoming a childminder were put at ease by other childminders in the area.
“There’s an amazing community of childminders in Dumfries and Galloway. If anyone is thinking of becoming a childminder, I’d recommend reaching out to someone and asking to visit their setting. I reached out to another childminder and went to visit her. I think a lot of people worry about their house or flat and think they don’t have enough space, but actually anyone can do it, childminders are brilliant at getting out and about with their mindees and making great use of our beautiful local area. Anyone thinking of doing it should know there’s lots of support available!”