Nursery World - 'Step into Learning' initiative

A local day nursery has seen nine parents and carers gain national qualifications in numeracy and literacy after sitting tests on the premises. They were taking part in a pilot of the 'Step into Learning' initiative, which is managed by the Basic Skills Agency on behalf of both the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions. The project aims to train nursery staff to identify parents or carers who have literacy, numeracy or language needs and to recommend them to take local courses to improve their skills. Jane Cooper, an adult learner who passed literacy and numeracy tests at Bentley West nursery in Walsall, said, 'I don't think I would have had the confidence to go and study at college, but because I was able to learn at the nursery where I already knew people, I felt much more relaxed. Doing the test has given me the confidence to try other qualifications, and I'm now studying for an NVQ in childcare.'

initiative, which is managed by the Basic Skills Agency on behalf of both the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions. The project aims to train nursery staff to identify parents or carers who have literacy, numeracy or language needs and to recommend them to take local courses to improve their skills. Jane Cooper, an adult learner who passed literacy and numeracy tests at Bentley West nursery in Walsall, said, 'I don't think I would have had the confidence to go and study at college, but because I was able to learn at the nursery where I already knew people, I felt much more relaxed. Doing the test has given me the confidence to try other qualifications, and I'm now studying for an NVQ in childcare.'

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