What is expected of childcare workers and what are the underpinning values and principles of working with children? What skills and qualities are required?
These and many other questions are answered during the 12-hour Making Choices programme, which aims to equip budding practitioners with all the practical advice they need to get their first job in the sector.
Its target market is wide, appealing to school leavers, those returning to work or study, existing children's workers who want to extend their careers and also those who would like to change direction.
Anna Warrington-Hughes is one of the latter. She completed a degree in photography and found she so enjoyed working in the children's gallery at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool that she wanted to become a practitioner.
'I was really inspired by having contact with children as part of the gallery's programme of events,' she says. 'I began to see how rewarding it was to work with very young children in an educational context. They gave so much feedback, it was just great.'
Anna says the course helped her find confidence in the idea that she could channel her creativity into an early years role.
'Before the course I already knew that I wanted to work in a pre-school setting, and be more involved in the learning side than with caring. The course proved to be extremely informative and enabled me to gain insight into the sector. Afterwards I got in touch with as many day nurseries and pre-schools as I could find in my area and am now working at Ashton House Nursery, outside Chester, as a nursery assistant, and really enjoying it.'
Making Choices was launched last year with funding from the DfES, but has recently been upgraded under the new title, Making Choices in Working with Children, Young People and Adults.
Trainer Bev Amison helped to pilot the new course in Cheshire and Manchester earlier this year and is now delivering it locally, through adult education centres. It can be taken over three days or as six two-hour sessions.
'Courses are co-ordinated locally through recruitment teams attached to Sure Start and we also have direct contact with JobCentre Plus to identify demand,' Bev explains. 'The new course reduces the written element and provides more opportunity for group discussion.'
Childcare, playwork and foster care are covered in depth, while the training pack covers information relating to the wider children's workforce and related sectors. With the programme led by the level of local interest, the sessions are well attended and lively.
Bev says, 'We bring in a range of speakers from children's centres, including childminders and those who run childminding networks, along with practitioners from private day nurseries and out-of-school clubs. Groups tend to have between four to six candidates, so everyone has the chance to fully participate.'
She reports that demand is riding high and at least 80 per cent of candidates have a genuine commitment to working with children. Cheshire Sure Start has a contract with Connexions, and can provide support to candidates after they have completed the course.
'We look internally for vacancies and provide advice on CVs,' says Bev.
'One-to-one interviews are available with Job Centre Plus and we can help to access work placements through the Sure Start team.'
The course is designed to reflect practicalities, 'so that key areas such as hygiene and first aid are covered,' she says. 'We've tried to make it as employer-friendly as possible, so settings have a good idea of how the course equips people.'
Having completed the programme, candidates are given a certificate, which shows potential employers that they have taken time to consider the options before choosing a sector and are aware of the importance of undertaking training.
Bev adds, 'We get a minority of men, but we recently had one who had been given compulsory redundancy and wanted to go into childcare. Often candidates will want to undertake some voluntary work to see where they fit in best.'
For Anna, one of the best things about the course was its hands-on style.
She says, 'In the second session, Bev went into the skills and qualities a practitioner needs, and we got involved in some games and even made models out of playdough. It got us thinking creatively about play and its importance.
'We spent a lot of time looking in depth at skills and qualities such as being professional and caring, communicating with adults and children, listening and safeguarding. It was good to discuss these issues as a group.
'Now that I have a position in a nursery I may study for an NVQ 3 or look at a CACHE diploma or even the Early Years Professional. There are a variety of options for me.'
Bev Anniston is confident that the course delivers reliable guidance. 'One of its strengths is that we can talk to the participants and create a personal action plan for each individual, on the basis of their ambitions.
It's then up to them to act on it.' NW
Further information
* SkillsActive: Cheryl Francis or Kiran Sahota admin@skillsactive.com
www.skillsactive.org.uk
* CWDC info@cwdccouncil.org.uk www.cwdcouncil.org.uk
Individual career plans
Making choices - key objectives
By the end of the programme participants will have an awareness of:
* The diverse services available to children, young people and families
* The specific roles and responsibilities involved in working with children, young people and families, in early years education, childcare, playwork and foster care
* The importance and relevance of training for such work
* Training and career opportunities available within the children's workforce
* Possible sources of information for supporting career choices
