Training today

It would seem that training in the early years in Britain is at the crossroads. Earlier this year, on 31 March, the Early Years National Training Organisation was abolished, along with all other NTOs. In their place the Government is going to set up a smaller number of Sector Skills Councils. But Westminster doesn't appear keen on the early years sector having one, even though it employs hundreds of thousands of professionals across the country and its policies have put childcare in the centre of helping drive Britain's economy. As Richard Dorrance, chief executive of CACHE, points out on page 11, over the Early Years NTO's brief lifespan, it achieved a lot for the sector and it has 'built up a momentum that must not be lost'. Let's hope the Government is listening and heeds the early years sector's call for its own Sector Skills Council to represent all of Britain's childcare professionals and their training needs. Regarding training, in these 40 pages you will find hundreds of courses, workshops and conferences covering all aspects of working with children. To make contact details even easier to follow, the centre spread on pages 20 and 21 has an A to Z listings section of the organisations featured in this edition of Training Today. Note, however, that the contact details for colleges and universities, and health-related organisations and charities appear in their own listings sections.