European Social Fund in England

CETAD

100 percent of the Cumbrian women who took part in CETAD's early years childcare training, believe that their skills have improved as a result. A further 97% felt that the NVQ Level 3 qualification had helped them to improve their career and employment prospects.

Among this number is Chris Osgood from Carlisle who is now employed as a learning support assistant after completing a NVQ on the Lancaster University Centre for Education, Training and Development (CETAD) course. "I was a medical secretary for 27 years until I had a brain tumour and had to consider a new job. It's been 35 years since I left school, so returning to learning was a challenge, but I did it. I started with nothing and now I have a qualification."

Jayne Lillington, project manager for the European-funded early years training, says that the women who take part in the course are a mixture of those who want to enter the field, but also those who need the qualification to retain their jobs. "The profile of Early Years teaching and care has been raised and the national targets for provision have increased. Expectations are higher and practitioners are now required to be qualified".

Supporting by £80,000 European Social Fund via Cumbria LSC, CETAD's Early Years training has received outstanding feedback from both employers and NVQ external verifiers, on the quality of the programme and the team delivering it.

The training is supporting the Government's Skills Strategy, by ensuring that individuals are employable and fulfilled whilst acquiring the skills needed to meet employers' needs.

CETAD assessor, Cath Finn, says that quality of the training is widely recognised in the Cumbrian childcare sector. She said: "Many employers have said to staff, 'If you're going to do a qualification, go to CETAD'"

Another successful element of the training has been its flexibility in addressing the specific barriers faced by those women in Cumbria who want to return to learning. Jayne Lillington said: "We have juggled the programme to get over the challenges posed by the Cumbrian geography, which would otherwise leave people disadvantaged. "We also structure the course to fit around the women and their lives; we only run the workshops during term-time and between 9.30-2.30 to make sure they are as accessible as possible. That is part of the philosophy of CETAD - giving people access to training."

Mother-of-five Ally Michael from Maryport is just one of the 41 women who have benefited from the dedicated, intensive support from CETAD's assessors. "I was working in a mobile crèche but because of my qualification I have a new job. I am going to be managing a breakfast and after school club. I wouldn't have been able to do a job like that 12 months ago - it would have floored me."

The LSC's senior contract manager, Anne Wilson, believes that the hands-on training is creating vital opportunities in Cumbria.

She said: "We were delighted to work with CETAD and to support this project, as is assisting women who have had a forced period of absence from the labour market to gain the necessary guidance, skills and qualifications to re-enter employment."

For more information, please contact:

Corinne McGlennon

Learning and Skills Council Cumbria

E-mail: corinne.mcglennon@lsc.gov.uk

Direct tel: 01900 733351