Title :: Quality Childcare Provision

Programme :: Quality Childcare

Commenced :: March 2003

Value :: £149,503

Measure :: 3.2 Locally-based Human Resource Training and Development Strategies

Aim ::
Support the development of a dynamic childcare sector, which meets the needs of children, parents and employers through the provision of a quality, professional and well-informed service.

Overview ::
This three year project which has entered its final year has been designed to meet the growing needs of the childcare sector within the District. With approximately 14% of the population of Banbridge under the age of nine, childcare facilities within the District were perceived inadequate. It was therefore acknowledged that it was essential to create a robust childcare infrastructure in order to meet the needs of children, parents and employers.

A partnership between NIPPA (The Early Years Organisation) and UBIFHE (Upper Bann Institute of Further and Higher Education – Banbridge Campus), the project aims to help develop the childcare sector within the District to ensure the provision of a quality, professional and well informed service. The Partners hope to achieve this by providing free places on essential accredited courses i.e. NVQ Childcare III and other short courses, the publishing of a booklet for parents in the area detailing childcare providers and by helping childcare providers to attain a quality assurance accreditation.

Objectives ::

• Increase in qualified individuals who can actively seek and attain work.
• Improve expertise within the childcare sector.
• Improved capacity within the community, by increasing skills levels of local people, to improve local delivery and standard of services provided locally.

Outputs ::

• Short Courses: Participation of at least 8 nurseries/crèches/playgroups; 25 short courses provided; 248 participants on short courses.
• NVQ / Long Courses: 3 NVQ or equivalent accredited courses established; 50 participants on these accredited courses; 30 participants achieving qualifications; provision of one-to-one support for all participants.
• Quality Assurance: 3 nurseries/crèches/playgroups gaining accreditation.
• Information Leaflet: 1,000 families targeted with relevant information through provision of an information leaflet.
• Dissemination Event: Large showcase event to be held before the end of the Programme.

Quote ::
Making quality childcare provision accessible to all and helping local childminders to achieve higher qualifications has raised the standard of childcare provision in the Banbridge District. Linda McAdam Manager, Banbridge Pre-School

Contact ::
Alywnne Shannon
Project Co-Ordinator, UBIFHE
T: 028 4062 6401
E: shannona@ubi.ac.uk