Learning Matters Bulletin
Welcome to the first update from the Community Children's Service Workforce Development Team.
What's new?
Training and professional development for early years and play practitioners 09/10
Electronic application forms for the CPD courses are now available on line. Once you have downloaded, completed and saved a course application form you can send it by email to eytraining@lambeth.gov.uk.
Community Children's Service Study Awards 09/10
You can find out more about qualifications and funding for practitioners in the on-line guide. Application forms for funding are also available electronically. Once you have downloaded, completed and saved an application form you can send it by email to eytraining@lambeth.gov.uk.
South London Early Years Professional Directory
To help practitioners, managers and advisers find out about
relevant courses in South London for Early Years Professionals (EYPs) and would-be EYPs, we have created this shared on-line Professional Directory of training opportunities, including Further Education and Higher Education courses for 2009/10.
Things to spend your Graduate Leader Fund on
Settings in receipt of the Graduate Leader Fund have sometimes been unsure about what they could legitimately spend the money on. To help them and to support the monitoring process, we have created a handy checklist.
Training
- In June 2009 we sent out the training booklets about CPD courses, qualifications and funding to all Lambeth early years and play settings. If you are a registered provider and you didn't receive a copy this year, please contact the Families Information Service 0845 601 5317 Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm, to make sure we have the correct postal address for you.
- Once a term we send out a termly training calendar to update you about any changes to the planned programme.
- IT training for childminders (and others)
Qualifications
- NVQs in Children's Care, Learning and Development to be phased out. The last enrolment for these courses will be September 2010. Practitioners are being advised that now is the last opportunity to be funded for NVQs at levels 2 and 3.
They will be replaced with a new Diploma for Children and the Young Peoples Workforce, with pathways for Early Years, Social Care, learning development and support services. Teaching Assistants and Playwork will be included at a later stage. The mandatory core units will be based on the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children's Workforce. It will give access to Foundation and other degrees.
- Early Years Professional Status: places are still available in January 2010 for practitioners wanting to gain this graduate level status in Lambeth. Contact Sarah Dewar from Tribal Training for more information on 0117 311 5485 sarah.dewar@tribalgroup.co.uk or see the Tribal website www.eypsattribal.co.uk.
Funding for training
Have you tried:
There are many grants and bursaries available from charities, below are two examples:
There are a range of educational grants available through Family Action's grants programme. Grants are primarily targeted at families and individuals with low incomes, particularly those living on benefits. Grants are available to people from across the UK. While there are no set limits, in general grants are made for £200 to £300. To find out whether you are eligible to apply for a Family Action Educational Grant or another grant making trust complete an online Educational Grant Search.
Horizons Education Fund
Funded by Barclaycard, this fund aims to support lone parents who have the motivation, determination and ability to improve their employment prospects. Grants are available to people from across the UK. Grants range from £500 to £1,500. Download a Horizons Grant Application Form. Find out more about it Educational Grants Services.
We'd love to hear what you found useful. Have you got any training-related queries we can answer? Send your feedback to abey@lambeth.gov.uk.