Child Care provision in the United Kingdom in to 8 yrs PRAGUE – 9 th /10 th December John White – Executive Director – PISCES wm

About PISCESwm c.i.c. Partnerships Committed to working together In Social and Communty Enterprise in Social Care Always looking for progress Skills for Life

What Services are available for children under 8 and their families outside their homes Children and Family Centres –run by NGOs and Local Authorities Nurseries for run by NGOs, Local Authorities and Private including Companies Playgroups and Crèches – usually run by NGOs – often parent lead and part time Child Minding i.e Individual caring for one or more children in their own home Pre School and School

Services available for Families in their own homes Midwife Services – Pre and after birth of child – 2 years Health Visiting Services - after Birth and throughout childhood – usually linked to Child Health and General Practitioner Services including Health Clinics General practitioners Social Services to cover Child protection issues

Staff and Qualifications- General Owners/Managers may not need to be qualified in Child care and unqualified staff can be used in certain roles BUT Every person coming into contact with children unsupervised MUST be checked through the DISCLOSURE and BARRING SERVICE – previously Criminal Records Bureau Every facility is regualarly monitored and visited by OFSTED – Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills

Staff and Qualifications - Specific Staff Ratios Up to 2 Years Old Staff to 3 Children 1 Staff to 5 Children 1 Staff to 8 Children

Types of Staff employed in Children's and Family centres and Day Nurseries 1 Nursery and Playgroup Assistants who largely work under Supervision Qualifications preferred – NVQ’s ( National Vocational Qualifications) Early Years Care and Education – Level 2 For Staff who largely work without Supervision NVQ Level 3 Playwork Assistants Under Supervision – NVQ2 in Play Work Unsupervised - NVQ3 in Play Work

Types of Staff and Qualifications 2 PREPARATORY COURSES NNEB – City and Guilds Programme – 2 Years College based BTEC Certificate in Children Care, Learning and education ADVANCED COURSES NVQ – Level 4 for staff supervising several out of school servces i.e Holiday Play Schemes NVQ – Level 5 – Several management options Teaching Assistant – Level 3

Roles and Qualifications 3 Teaching Assistants NVQ 4/5 Teachers – Degree in Education Managers – NVQ 5 and above including degrees Social Workers- Degree in Social Work Nurses – Degrees in Nursing Midwives and Health Visitors – Additional Qualifications ALL GOVERNED BY National Professional Standards Committees

Additional Training and Safeguards The Management Body of every Service has a responsibility to provide additional training on Health and Safety First Aid Equality of opportunity and should also provide and make publicly available a Policy Document including at least 35 separate items – Example to be provided