An innovative scheme funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) to upgrade the country's childcare workforce by helping them access training is on hold in many parts of England while officials cope with shortfalls in expected funding allocations.
Unblocking Barriers to Training was heralded by the Department of Education and Skills (DfES), when it was launched in 2001, as a way to recruit and train unemployed people, and improve the skills and qualifications of existing workers to meet the new national daycare standards.
The scheme aimed to provide about 30m over two years (2001/2002 and 2002/2003) to enable Early Years Childcare and Development Partnerships (EYDCPs) to overcome the hurdles which can deter people embarking on training by awarding individuals with bursaries towards course fees, transport, childcare, course materials and also supply cover where training was away from the workplace.
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