Childcare training offered by council
Simon Vevers
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
A childcare training academy being set up in Edinburgh is aiming to help with staff shortages and reduce unemployment. The academy, which is a one-year pilot beginning on 30 August and involving 20 students initially, will be located in Pilton and run by the voluntary sector trainer and provider North Edinburgh Childcare, backed by both the city council and the early years partnership.
The academy, which is a one-year pilot beginning on 30 August and involving 20 students initially, will be located in Pilton and run by the voluntary sector trainer and provider North Edinburgh Childcare, backed by both the city council and the early years partnership.
The academy hopes to attract people who have been out of work for some time, as well as those who had not yet considered working with children.
Students will be given a year's on-the-job training and help in finding jobs through a partnership with local employers.
Barbara Webster, training co-ordinator at North Edinburgh Childcare, said, 'Although this is a pilot we are hopeful that it will become a rolling programme.'
Potential students are being urged to approach their local job centre if they wish to join the academy. They will be interviewed to assess their suitability for the course and will also have to undergo police checks under the Disclosure Scotland Act.
In the first four weeks of the training, students will be given an introduction to childcare, safety and equal opportunities. They will also receive coaching in what to wear in a childcare setting and how to approach job interviews.
Students will then go to work placements four days a week, with a fifth day at the academy gaining knowledge towards the Scottish Progression Award in Children's Care and Play. They will be assigned an assessor who will visit them at the workplace.
Ms Webster said students would be supported to continue their job search and progress their qualifications.
Councillor Reverend Ewan Aitken, executive member for children and families on Edinburgh council, said, 'This is a really exciting, innovative way to encourage more people to train and work in childcare. The academy is a first for the city and we expect that once it is up and running, other childcare-related courses can be launched from there.'
'This programme should also prove to be beneficial to businesses in the city and help employers tackle their recruitment difficulties.'
