Childminder Who Left 27 Children Unsupervised Was a 'Master Manipulator', Parents Say

A childminder who admitted to neglect charges after leaving dozens of children unsupervised at her home in Dunfermline has been described by parents as a "master manipulator" who carefully cultivated a reputation for trustworthiness to conceal serious failures in care.

Amanda Mathewson, 55, pleaded guilty at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Tuesday to wilfully neglecting, abandoning and exposing children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to their health. She is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

The case has shocked families across the community, many of whom believed they had placed their children in the care of one of the area's most respected childminders. Mathewson, who had operated as a self-employed childminder for three decades, provided care for children under the age of 16 at her home.

One parent told BBC Scotland that Mathewson had been regarded as "one of the best in the area" and was "loved and trusted throughout the community." According to that parent, building an apparently unshakeable reputation as friendly, caring and trustworthy with the adults she met outside her home formed part of how she concealed what was really happening behind closed doors.

Another parent, who considered Mathewson a "good friend," told BBC Radio Scotland's Mornings programme that learning the truth had been devastating. They said the discovery had been "incredibly traumatic" for their family and for others involved, and that they had been forced to "rewrite eight years of history." The parent explained that they had lost happy memories because their belief that their children were being properly cared for turned out to be false, describing Mathewson as someone who "got away with these things for years."

The scale of the operation Mathewson was running far exceeded what she was permitted to provide. At the time of her arrest, she had 15 children aged under 12 in her care, along with 10 children under primary school age and two children under the age of one. At one stage, she left 27 youngsters alone and unsupervised at her home.

An investigation uncovered discrepancies between the number of children Mathewson was registered to look after and the number she was actually seen with on multiple occasions. Court documents revealed that she routinely played loud music and refused to let parents enter her home at drop-off time, apparently to conceal how overcrowded her provision had become.

Concerns raised by parents included that their children appeared not to have eaten while in Mathewson's care. Some noted that their children's clothes remained in "pristine condition," suggesting they had not been fed properly, and that it was a recurring theme for children to return home thirsty. Other parents reported that their children came home in dirty nappies or with dried faeces in their underwear.

Parents said they did notice signs of distress and asked questions, but were always reassured by Mathewson, who pre-empted their concerns with what one described as "a plausible explanation." One parent told the BBC: "This was sustained, deliberate deception that concealed neglect from families and professionals alike." They added: "If she could build and manipulate the trust of adults across an entire community so effectively, think about how little power babies and young children had behind those closed doors."

A Care Inspectorate report published in August 2023 stated that Mathewson was registered to provide care for a maximum of eight children at any one time. Her registration included conditions that no more than six children could be under the age of 12, no more than three could be under school age, and no more than one could be under 12 months old. An unannounced inspection carried out about a year before her arrest rated areas including care, learning and the setting as "very good" — the second-highest level on the quality scale. That report described children as being cared for in a "comfortable, welcoming and homely environment" and with "warmth, kindness and a nurturing approach."

The contrast between the official inspection findings and the reality described in court has raised serious questions about how the oversight system failed to detect the problems. Mathewson was arrested by police following allegations of cruelty towards children, and it was only after suspicions were raised that parents began working together to gather evidence for the authorities.

Reflecting on the aftermath of the revelations, one parent said: "I cannot tell you what the first few months were like after all of this came to light." They described how every parent involved had replayed countless conversations and comments their children had made, noting that things which seemed innocent at the time could, in hindsight, have been red flags. The emotional toll on families has been profound, with many struggling to come to terms with the realisation that their trust had been so comprehensively betrayed.

A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate described the case as "distressing" and confirmed that the organisation had implemented changes as a result of what happened. The case has prompted wider discussion about the adequacy of safeguards designed to protect young children in home-based childcare settings, particularly when providers deliberately work to evade scrutiny.

Mathewson's sentencing is expected to take place next month, bringing a degree of closure to families who have spent months grappling with the consequences of her deception. For the parents involved, however, the damage extends far beyond the courtroom. As one parent put it, the discovery forced them to question years of cherished memories and to confront the uncomfortable reality that the care they believed their children were receiving simply did not exist.