Nursery staff share best practice through Erasmus

Busy Bees Early Years Training Academy won its bid for an Erasmus grant which is set to place apprentices and established staff in the Netherlands.

The ‘Small Steps, Big Ideas’ project, includes a basic Dutch language course prior to departure and getting to know their counterparts via a blog.

The 12-month programme will be open to all Busy Bees staff with an allocated number of places reflecting experience and qualification.

Busy Bees childcare group, which runs the UK academy, sees the link an opportunity to share best practice across the continent.

The scheme includes preparation for the trip, language training, a 12-day trip, and post-exchange feedback.

Human resources director Clare Phizacklea, said, ‘This bid is our first steps into international mobility and we are thrilled to have had our bid accepted by the Erasmus scheme.

‘We have taken the decision to encompass this project into our overall workforce development strategy in order to improve the benefits available to our employees, both increasing our staff retention rates and attracting more quality practitioners to the company.

‘There is a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge and best practice cross-culturally, ultimately working towards transforming early years practice across the continent.’

Ms Phizacklea said Busy Bees shares similarities with the Dutch group Small Steps, both being the largest childcare providers in their respective countries.

She added, ‘However, what Small Steps can offer above all else is their experience and expertise in operating after-school provision using alternative teaching and learning methods, as well as showing our participants a contrast between the UK’s delivery of childcare and a less prescribed curriculum model system as it is in the Netherlands.’

Training manager Fay Gibbin, said it is an opportunity to compare practice, teaching and learning methodologies, and consider their application at home.

‘On a personal level, our learners will have the opportunity to take part in an enriching experience which will help them growth as both a childcare professional and as a motivated and passionate employee,’ added Ms Gibbin.

‘For our youngest group of employees, we hope they will return with an increased confidence, appetite for learning and wider cultural awareness.

For our already qualified CVET group of participants, we would expect to see an increased ambition to drive the company to develop its position as a sector leader of innovative childcare.’

Ms Gibbin continued, ‘We hope that our employees embrace the fantastic opportunity this programme provides and we, as an employer, are thrilled that we can deliver what is quite a unique opportunity in the childcare sector at present.

‘We hope to disseminate this success throughout the early years sector and would encourage other childcare providers to follow suit in order to further enrich the progression of quality childcare provision in the UK.’

There are 18 places available for IVET (Initial Vocational Educational Training) learners, 22 for CVET (Continuing Vocational Educational Training) learners enrolled on the Busy Bees Academy of Management and a staff group dependent on demand.