to help formulate the best way to deliver training and assessment programmes came as a huge disappointment. It also raised questions about the true agenda of the strategy.
Comprised mostly of universities and with no private sector listing, the consultation process seems to contradict the CWDC's commitment to look for, 'A range of organisations with whom it can collaborate to trial a variety of approaches to training and a national assessment and quality assurance system", including 'providers from the maintained, private and voluntary sectors'. Rather, the selection appears to be a de-selection of any organisation outside the public sector.
Subtly listed on the CWDC website at the beginning of April, and with only a two-week lead time to submit an entry, it was only by sheer chance that private training provider Willows Training stumbled across the very important consultation process and made its non-eventful submission.
With such a timescale in place and no other apparent communication to the private sector about the consultation, you question whether the organisational stages of this critical and pivotal process were pre-determined.
Historically the private sector has delivered childcare in the UK and been instrumental in its training. We are very disappointed that considering the wealth of experience and expertise of the private sector, it has not been approached and asked to participate in this important consultation process.
We hope the Regional Tour, commencing in June, of various settings takes into account the multitude of private day nurseries and does not just focus on public settings.
Ginny Taylor, founder of Willows Training, owner of Wind in the Willows Private Day Nurseries
