Forward march

Feeling restless or ambitious but not quite sure where to take your childcare skills next? Crechendo Training is offering courses for professional development that will particularly suit nannies and nursery nurses. The Advanced Practice in Working with Babies, developed and validated by CACHE, aims to give students an in-depth knowledge that will enhance their employability as nannies or help qualify them for work in maternity nursing or in a nursery baby room. Crechendo's head of training, Alice Lewes, says, 'It's nothing to do with nappies and bottles!' This level 3 course requires 60 hours of taught time on alternate Saturdays and an assignment. It is held at Crechendo's site in London SW12 and costs 495. The fee could be offset by the new Individual Learning Account (ILA), a one-off payment of 150 towards course costs. Ms Lewes notes some employers who were going on maternity leave have paid their nanny's fees for the course as a 'carrot' to keep them with the family. For the managerially-minded, the evening and weekend course Management of Early Years Practice emphasises communication, group dynamics and teamwork, curriculum planning and child protection issues. It takes place in central London and also costs 495 and qualifies for ILAs.