As of September 2024, hundreds of thousands of working parents in the England became eligible to a new government-funded early education scheme. According to the new rules, parents will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare for children aged 9-months and older. This move is designed to ease the financial burden on families while supporting child development during crucial early stages. To support this scheme the government has estimated that 85,000 extra places and 40,000 extra staff is needed in childcare settings across the country by the end of next year.
While this is a welcomed change for parents, it risks putting a strain on the already struggling early years sector. This article will breakdown the impact this change can have on the early years sector and how nurseries and other early years settings can best be supported through this change.
Impact on Early Years Education
The introduction of free childcare hours will undoubtedly increase the demand for early years education services. This surge presents both opportunities and challenges for the childcare sector.
Like other areas within the greater education sector, early years education deals with a staffing shortage. The new scheme will require early years settings to recruit more staff to meet the demand. These new staff members need to be appropriately qualified and skilled which could cause difficulties in the hiring process.
Alongside this, the new scheme risks putting nurseries at capacity and no longer able to offer spaces in their settings. This means that parents may not be able to access the childcare they are intitled to, simply for lack of nursery spaces in their local area. To combat this, the government has announced its plans to support the build of 300 new and school-based nurseries. These plans could help ease the demand in local areas and ensure all parents have equal opportunities in accessing childcare.
The Role of Apprenticeships in Early Years Education
Apprenticeships offer a viable solution to address staffing shortages and ensure a well-trained workforce in the early years education sector.
Through an apprenticeship programme apprentices have an opportunity to earn as they learn by working in an early years setting while studying for a qualification. This makes apprenticeships an attractive pathway for many people looking to get into the sector.
For childcare settings, apprenticeships allow them to hire the needed staff and train them up to become fully qualified early years educators. Apprenticeships are also an excellent way to upskill existing staff who may not currently have the required qualifications, closing the skills gap. Early years apprenticeships are available to people of all ages and stages of their careers, not just young people.
Case study: TicTocs Day Nursery Preston
In preparation for the increase in demand, TicTocs Day Nursery in Preston has worked to ensure they enough staff and that their staff’s qualifications are all up to date. TicTocs have made full use of apprenticeships schemes employing staff under apprenticeships and upskilling their team.
The nursery has been building up their clientele after COVID and the new government announcement has given an extra boost to the setting requiring them to hire more staff to meet demand.
“It’s not easy to find qualified staff” said TicToc’s owner Deborah Thompson “but we had time to start training up staff to take them from a Level 2 to a Level 3”.
By using apprenticeships TicTocs nursery was able to prepare for the increase in demand and continue to offer parents and children a spot at a qualified childcare setting.
Early Years apprenticeship pathways
LMP Education offers several early years apprenticeships, providing a clear pathway for those who look to work within the early years sector.
Early Years Practitioner (EYP) – Level 2
Early Years Practitioners (EYP) mostly work in nurseries and other settings for young children. In this apprenticeship, learners gain practical experience by working with children aged 0-5 and assisting with their early development. Apprentices engage with the children, plan and conduct activities, seek meaningful play opportunities, and help with educational programmes. After completing a level 2 certificate, learners can progress to the level 3 Early Years Educator programme.
Early Year Practitioner programme
Early Years Educator – Level 3
Alongside the work with children in the classrooms, this level introduces more responsibilities including planning and leading activities, supervising, and most importantly allows apprentices to be included in the staff:child ratio which childcare settings must adhere to. Following the completion of a level 3 apprenticeship, learners have the opportunity to continue on to a level 5 programme.
Early Years Educator programme
Early Years Lead Practitioner – Level 5
The level 5 Early Years Practitioner programme is perfect for aspiring leaders tailored for senior practitioners, room leaders and deputy managers within an early years setting. This training programme is for practitioners with some leadership responsibilities within their setting working directly with children aged 0-5 years. Equivalent to a foundation degree. The government plans for early years education can present many challenges for the sector to overcome as well as many opportunities.
Early Years Lead Practitioner programme
Through careful planning, clever hiring, and adequate training, the sector has a chance to become much stronger and support many more children and parents.
If you are interested in learning how apprenticeships can support you or your early years setting, book a discovery call with a member of the LMP Team.
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