Dunfermline childminder admits neglect after leaving children unsupervised
A Scottish childminder has admitted neglecting and abandoning children in her care after leaving them unsupervised at her home in Dunfermline. The case matters because families said the practice was commonplace, while the court heard children were left distressed and some parents raised concerns about their care.
Amanda Mathewson, 55, pleaded guilty at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court. She was licensed to care for up to eight children but had 27 in her home, including two babies under one; when arrested, she had 15 children under 12. The alleged offences took place between September 2023 and August 2024. The Care Inspectorate said it had made changes following lessons from the case.
- Childminder admits neglecting children in her care.
- She was looking after 27 children, 19 above her licence limit.
- The Care Inspectorate says it has made changes following the case.
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A childminder in Dunfermline was repeatedly leaving young children in her care unsupervised at her home. This practice took place over several months in 2023 and 2024, leaving some children distressed and causing parents to worry about their wellbeing.
Amanda Mathewson, aged 55, was a licensed childminder but exceeded her permitted capacity by a significant margin. She was authorised to look after up to eight children but had as many as 27 in her home at one point, including babies aged under one year.
According to parents, leaving children unsupervised was not an occasional mistake but a regular occurrence. The case raises questions about how childminding services are regulated and monitored to ensure children's safety, which has prompted the Care Inspectorate to examine its oversight procedures.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Childminder who left 27 children in her home alone and unsupervised pleads guilty to neglect”.