Childcare services hit by Omicron will be able to apply for grants of up to £4,500.

Nearly 5,800 services could benefit from the new £9.8 million Childcare Sector Omicron Impacts Fund.

Registered childminders, as well as private and third sector children’s daycare services, can apply from 8 March. This includes early learning and childcare settings, and school-aged childcare services.

More information on the Childcare Sector Omicron Impacts Fund, including how to apply for a grant.

The fund is open to childminders and private and third sector daycare of children services who were registered with the Care Inspectorate on 31 December 2021.

Grant amounts vary according to the registered size of each service. Grants will range from £950 to £4,500.

There will be two separate application routes reflecting the different nature of services in the sector:

• Applications from private and third sector daycare of children services, and childminding services with 11 or more registered places, will be made through the bisaccount single secure online application platform. Grant applications will be processed by local authorities.

Childminding services with a registered capacity of between one and 10 places will apply through a separate secure online application platform. Grant applications will be processed by the Scottish Government.

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