Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the projected demand for childminding services over the three-year pilot period; and (b) how does this compare with current enrolment and waitlist figures across all appointed operators under the ECDA childminding pilot scheme.
Answer
1 Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) launched a three-year Childminding Pilot for Infants in December 2024 to grow childminding services for infants aged 2 to 18 months as an additional caregiving option for parents.
2 Since its launch, the pilot has supported around 50 infants across both childminders’ homes and community premises. Parents who have enrolled have shared positive feedback on the dedicated care their infants receive and the convenience, especially since childminders can accommodate parents’ caregiving preferences. We are also encouraged by the growing interest in the pilot, with around 160 families indicating interest to enrol in the next 6 months.
3 As the pilot progresses, ECDA will continue to study demand for the pilot, and work with operators to meet demand from parents and enhance service delivery, which includes matching families with childminders more efficiently.