Supporting Childcare Providers become better business
CWLWM has developed Business, Fundraising, and Legal Status toolkits to support childcare providers become better business and to become more sustainable. A number of ‘How to use it’ seminars have been delivered and have been very successful. More of these events are planned in the future. Predominantly staffed by women and in a low-pay sector, gender inequality in childcare settings is being addressed through empowering staff and supporting settings to become more sustainable in the long term. It is difficult to gauge how effective the toolkits will prove during the life of the project, however, they have so far been met with enthusiasm and have received positive feedback. All of the toolkits will be supported and further developed long after the project ends.
Supporting Welsh language provision
Research has been conducted into Welsh language and bilingual provision in Wales. Areas have been targeted where Welsh provision is at its weakest and a team of language support officers have been working alongside staff in settings to improve the Welsh language provision and confidence of staff. Gender inequality in childcare settings is being addressed through empowering staff – providing them with greater Welsh language skills and enhancing confidence within those staff. Feedback from childcare settings’ staff has been very positive. Welsh language skills have increased and the confidence to use them has also increased. Furthermore, this has had the additional effect of parents picking up more Welsh language through attending settings where language support officers have been working.
Supporting the development of dynamic and innovative training
A radical new model of play training has been developed which results in the participants receiving a qualification that equips them with the skills and knowledge to recognise the vital significance of play for all children and to be able to effectively facilitate the play process in any play space or setting. This model raises the standard of playwork practice and acts as a quality benchmark for other providers throughout Wales and beyond. It will challenge all playworkers, play trainers and developers to consider how best to improve the quality of their playwork training and practice. In addition, there has been a focus on highlighting the importance and value of outdoor play experiences for children, and raising the profile and accessibility of playwork as a profession. There has already been some very positive feedback from volunteers who have been piloting the new training. There has also been some less positive comment which has been equally beneficial to shaping the training programme. It is hoped that the new model of training and the development of training in outdoor play will bring more men into playwork, a sector largely dominated by women workers.
Supporting local communities
CWLWM is currently working with ten Communities First partnerships to identify how best to support them in their work. Working with local residents and agencies long term prevention action plans looking at early years interventions and childcare are being developed. CWLWM will enable a greater understanding by Communities First Partnerships in particular, and all those involved in Communities First across Wales in general, on long term prevention issues and use of risk and protection factors in service planning. A guidebook to help Communities First Partnerships address these issues will be available to all Communities First Partnerships. CWLWM is also holding a conference, aimed at policy makers, which looks specifically at the issue of engaging local communities in community led childcare and early years interventions programmes.
Employment and Workforce Development
CWLWM has conducted research aimed at identifying alternative solutions to the problems of viability and sustainability in childcare provision. Research has looked at employer sponsored childcare and employer consortiums, and the range of childcare subsidies available at local, national and transnational level. CWLWM is currently finalising a review of strategic planning processes for childcare and report on good practice childcare models. During this extensive research CWLWM has developed and tested new ways of consulting parents to assess their childcare needs other than by questionnaire, through a series of focus groups facilitated by experienced researchers. CWLWM has also worked with employers to assess their employees childcare needs. From this research the research experts will train the member of the Childcare Task Group, who work together to deliver the annual targets set out in the childcare plan, to be more effective in their strategic planning methodology and activity in order to meet parents unmet and ongoing childcare needs. CWLWM is supporting the workforce development needs of the sector, and raising the profile of childcare as a profession. The development of a DVD and bilingual booklet has been created around working in childcare. The leaflet and DVD will assist in promoting the diversity of the workforce including men in childcare and promoting older people to work in the childcare sector. The project will empower people to choose a career in childcare and encourage new workers into the sector.
Mainstreaming Achievements
The work of CWLWM will be mainstreamed through a number of ways. The DP is made up of many national associations who have an all Wales remit. Mainstreaming will be through their existing networks. In addition there are dedicated CWLWM roadshows and an international conference targeting all stakeholders. As lead partner the Welsh Assembly Government’s Children’s Strategy Division is promoting outputs and outcomes to their wide range of contacts.
