London Borough of Ealing Childcare Holiday Improvement Pilots (CHIPs) Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

London Borough of Ealing There are approximately 120,766 households in Ealing Ealing has the third largest population in London with 318,735 residents 23% of the population are children 41.7% of residents are from minority ethnic groups. This is the fourth highest in London Ealing Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Background A key recommendation of Ealing’s Childcare Sufficiency Assessment undertaken in 2008 was to increase the availability of out of school provision for all holidays by 24%. Objectives The pilot aimed to increase the capacity of childcare providers to improve and extend the service options available to parents and their children by providing a co-ordained programme of sustainable specialist targeted support, leaving a legacy lasting beyond Implementation The Pilot was delivered by Ealing Play Service who developed the programme in partnership with Extended Schools, Family Information Service and Childcare sections of the Council. Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

The programme consisted of four key areas and addressed the following key issues as identified by the former Department for Children, Schools and Families: Market Management* Strategic Co-Ordination Information for Parents* Financial Stability Meeting the Needs of Children Young People and Parents & Carers Business Development and Planning Content and Quality Workforce Development Training and Recruitment Strategic Co-Ordination* Workforce Issues Financial Stability Holiday Childcare Provider Development Financial Sustainability* Market Management Meeting the Needs of Children, Young People and Parents & Carers Financial Support Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Work stream included: Business Development Introductory day 2 x 4 part Business Planning Workshops Business Planning manual on CD-ROM Enrolled 20 providers on Grant Finder Business Development and Planning Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Business Development and Planning - Key Learning Outcomes Raising awareness and providing support for holiday childcare encouraged new provision The number of potential providers is significant but with a limited spread of backgrounds. Use of visual planning aids were useful in planning and in creating a strategic vision during the initial stages It became apparent that the areas that are potential profitable / sustainable may be adequately covered with childcare. Conversely, areas of deprivation often lack childcare services The project identified the need for a specific post to carry out a number of roles: A lot of encouragement and direction is needed early on Potential providers need continuing support Providers liked being given targeted information and being encouraged to find out more themselves rather than being overloaded with paperwork Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Work stream included: Qualification Courses –NVQ level 210 candidates –NVQ level 313 candidates –A1 Assessor7 candidates –PTTLS1 candidate Core Short Courses Programme, Including; –Safeguarding, first aid, food hygiene, playwork activities and health & safety Development of a staffing agency with a voluntary organisation Training and Recruitment Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Working with children in holiday childcare remains a popular option for a wide range of people The opportunity to gain professional level 2 qualifications attracted those who were new to the workforce There is a need for core short courses to cover essential topics to provide quality services Short courses need to be accredited to encourage planned staff development programme. There is a need for temporary holiday staff to gain a qualification Working with a third sector organisation (Acton Community Forum) to develop a Playwork Staffing agency allowed for a more efficient recruitment process. Acton Community Forum was also able to use existing voluntary sector networks to advertise the existence of the staffing agency and promote its services Training and Recruitment - Key Learning Outcomes Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Work stream included: Development of a providers network Investigate the feasibility of developing a resource centre Delivery of an end of Pilot Conference Holiday Childcare Provider Development Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Providers and potential providers are enthusiastic about support offered through networks Providers worked in partnership with each other and development officers The structured format of the network meetings proved popular Feasibility study on a resource centre providing a bulk purchasing service, scrap bank and toy library illustrated that the benefits to providers is limited Lack of strategic planning by Holiday Childcare providers for the procurement of resources Organisations would have to order significant quantities through the Resource Centre to realise savings Holiday Childcare Provider Development - Key Learning Outcomes Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Work stream included: Commission ‘new places’ for holiday schemes Improve premises Project Funding; including UB5 Financial Support Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Financial Support - Key Learning Outcomes Relatively small amounts of money could make significant impact for potential providers There is a lack of suitable and affordable premises for holiday schemes to operate from Issues included: protectionism, not appreciating benefits, availability There exists a misconception that holiday childcare generates large profits Capital grants could have attracted premises mangers to consider holiday childcare to improve their asset It was found charges to parent/carers were crucial in determining usage of holiday childcare particularly for the disadvantaged Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Conference The end of project conference targeted holiday childcare providers and those delivering or working in other areas such as Playwork who are interested in expanding into holiday childcare provision. The event showcased the CHIPs programme, highlighted best practice and detailed the learning outcomes from the pilot.

Key Issues Raising awareness and providing support both through professional advice and finance increased the number of holiday childcare providers in the borough. Potential holiday childcare providers needed support to develop a strategic vision and approach to their businesses Providers operating in disadvantaged areas need on-going support both financially and through professional planning and advice. There is a need for development workers to actively advise and support potential holiday childcare providers through the whole start up process from initial business planning issues through to Ofsted registration, and opening their services Online training for level 2 and 3 qualifications proved to be a popular option when offered free of charge. Accredited core short courses are needed for providers who use casual staff and students. Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Key Issues Continued…. There is a need for an entry level qualification for students and temporary staff to ensure that new staff have a sufficient knowledge of necessary childcare issues. There exists a demand for mutual support among providers through networking. Network meetings proved popular. Working through the third sector provided advantages when creating the staffing agency which came to be utilised by a range of providers and is on going. The feasibility study for the resource bank illustrated that the prices negotiated with suppliers were not competitive although there is still some potential in a revised format. It was found small amount of targeted financial support could make significant improvements Availability of premises has proved to be a barrier to providers opening new holiday childcare services. Fees charged to parent/carers can be crucial in determining access to holiday childcare. Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

Conclusion The Pilot resulted in an increase in services available, increased the pool of qualified staff and improved quality and established a new agency to supply a pool of casual staff. Many providers were small scale organisations with limited resources and needed ongoing support. Many of these isolated providers welcomed the opportunity for assistance and networking opportunities. Expected Outcomes: Scarcity of provision in the poorest areas and that realistic business planning was essential; which related to the level of charges and that working with children remained a popular option. Unexpected Outcomes: those responsible for premises believed large profits were generated, that there appears to be no introductory level qualification, small amounts of funding could be significant and there exists a relative lack of a strategic approach and planning. Two major issues: there exists a constant and as yet still unmet need for childcare during school holidays which is being addressed by small scale providers on an ad hoc basis and that subsidised levels of fees were essential in ensuring equality of opportunity. Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play

More information: Name:Jeff Parkinson Telephone contact number: Ealing Early Years Childcare and Play