Childcare Works is a supported employment programme for individuals wanting to pursue a career working in childcare. The project supports the development of knowledge, skills and confidence to work in the early years, childcare and play sector with the aim of participants entering employment following completion of the programme. The project also supports childcare settings with recruitment and retention by providing them with a Trainee Nursery Assistant for 12 weeks, at no cost to the setting, with the opportunity to employ the trainee as a member of staff by the end of the programme.
Background
The programme, developed by NDNA Cymru, has been running in Wales since 2014 and has been funded throughout the years by various sources e.g. European Social Fund, Welsh Government, Cwlwm, Swansea Local Authority, The Moondance Foundation and UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Since 2019 the programme has supported 216 Trainee Support Workers, with 133 entering into employment across various sectors, 118 in early years and education. NDNA have secured funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s Supporting Partners programme to support partners of serving military personnel or partners of serving reservists, who are considering employment in early years and childcare.
The Programme in more detail:
- The programme is delivered as per the funder’s requirements.
- The programme is delivered over 16 weeks, with 4 weeks of training and 12 weeks placement in a childcare setting.
- Participants are employed by NDNA as Trainee Nursery Assistants (TNAs), to work 16 hours per week and paid national living wage.
- Training includes underpinning childcare knowledge modules delivered remotely via a live virtual classroom, along with: Safeguarding training, Paediatric First Aid, Speech & Language, L2 Health & Safety, L2 Food Hygiene, L2 Allergy Awareness and a Childminding briefing session.
The Process of the programme:
- Prior to each cohort commencing, the programme is widely advertised amongst partner organisations for referral opportunities.
- Once referrals and application forms are received, applicants are invited to an interview via Teams.
- Successful applicants are offered a place on the programme and provided with a contract of employment.
- The Childcare Works team will meet with the participants to view DBS and Right to Work documents.
- The Childcare Works team carry out DBS applications via uCheck prior to the project starting and also complete starter paperwork.
- Once participants have completed their initial 4-week training period, they commence their 12-week placement at a private day nursery.
- TNAs are supported whilst on placement with regular contact from a member of the Childcare Works team.
- If TNAs aren’t offered employment by their placement nursery by the end of the programme, they are supported with their next steps for a further 4 weeks e.g. job searching and applications, updating CVs, further learning options etc.
To find out more, please see contact details below or visit: Wales Childcare Works project - NDNA Cymru
Childcare Works web page - https://ndna.org.uk/ndna-cymru/childcare-works-project/
Contact:
Claudia Wood – Project Manager: claudia.wood@ndna.org.uk
Claudia Wood – Project Manager: claudia.wood@ndna.org.uk
Lesley Williams – Project Coordinator: lesley.williams@ndna.org.uk
