European Social Fund in England

JobCentre Plus programme provision for early years childcare and non-teaching

As part of the Government's Welfare to Work agenda, Jobcentre Plus is committed to helping its customers into work as a route out of poverty. In the Yorkshire and the Humber Region, Jobcentre Plus co-finances a number of projects with the European Social Fund to provide help and support to enable our unemployed customers to prepare for and access sustainable employment in the Early Years, Childcare and Non-Teaching sector.

Please see below for details of the projects currently running. For further details please contact the project direct or your local Jobcentre Plus Office, details of which can be found on our website www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk or in the BT phone book under Jobcentre Plus.

Programme Providers

Sydney Smith - Classroom Support: Training for Work

Area Covered: East Yorkshire and the Humber

Aim: A programme aims to update out-of-date skills and offer tailored support to prepare people to work as non-teaching assistants within schools and colleges.

Target Group: Unemployed people aged 18+ with particular priority to people returning to the workforce who lack skills or whose skills are outdated; lone parents especially young ones and those whose caring responsibilities cause labour market barriers; people from socially excluded groups.

Activities: The programme is part-time up to 30 hours per week, to run for a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 26 weeks. An induction course assesses suitability and capability of a person to move into work with children and explains the minimum requirements for entering this occupation. A 10-week accredited training programme prepares beneficiaries to work in schools with children. Access to voluntary placements (through charitable organisations) is provided in order to gain work experience within schools. Assistance with job search including help with application techniques and interview skills is included in the programme.

Contact:

Sean Atkinson

Tel: 01482 653380

Wakefield Metropolitan District Council - Childcare Careers

Area Covered: All parts of Wakefield District.

Aim: A short awareness course to equip beneficiaries with information to enable them to make an informed choice about the type of childcare work, training and qualifications available.

Target Group: Unemployed people aged 18+, LPs, returners to the labour market and those inactive in the labour market. Preference given to lone parents, residents of the 4 SureStart areas, central Wakefield wards, those from ethnic minorities and men.

Activities: Information regarding the different types of work available in childcare, early years and play work sectors; what each job entails - roles and responsibilities; training and qualifications available; principles, values and standards for people working with children; The Law and children; visits to childcare settings; jobsearch and CV help and advice; roll on roll off programme.

Contact:

Vivien Marchant, WMDC Adult Community Education

Tel: 01924 303333

A&R Training Services - Care To Learn

Area Covered: Calderdale and Kirklees Local Authority area.

Aim: To provide part time training opportunities in Care and/or Early Years & Social Care, with the aim of removing barriers to employment in the skill shortage area of care work, childcare and as non-teaching assistants.

Target Group: Lone Parents

Activities: Provision to be delivered on a part time basis, a minimum of 16 hours, maximum of 30 hours a week and to be available 'term time only' where required. The programme will last for 12 months in order for people to gain the required qualification. The programme includes training to NVQ level 2 in the appropriate occupational area. It also includes a minimum of 4 hours job search activity each week during the last 13 weeks of the programme. Beneficiaries are individually assessed, with good quality training plans and CVs produced in each case. The programme includes a work experience or placement.

Contact:

Tricia Hague/Louise Forward, A&R Training Services

Tel: 01484 429359