Up to 160 teenage parents in four of the most deprived parts of England are set to be given childminding support to enable them to continue their education or job training.
The Teen Parent project is a three-year, 3m initiative to assist teenage parents in Barking and Dagenham, Greenwich, Blackpool and Grimsby.
A new NCMA Children Come First childminding network is being set up in each of the areas and 100 childminders are being recruited to provide up to 16 hours a week of free childcare.
The project's manager, Lynne Taylor, a former nursery nurse who worked for the NCMA as a regional development officer in the Midlands for the past five years, said, 'Evidence has shown that teenage parents are more likely to live in poverty and unemployment and to be trapped in it through lack of education, childcare and support. In the longer term their daughters have a higher chance of becoming teenage parents themselves if they do not receive the support they need.'
She added, 'We are looking to recruit four local network co-ordinators for the project. The childminders will be recruited to the networks and they will liaise with agencies already working with teenage parents.' The childminders involved in the pilot will have the opportunity to develop their skills and qualification standards to NVQ Level 3. They will also earn the national minimum wage rate per child, up to a maximum of three children, and be able to take the CACHE Certificate in Childminding Practice.
Mrs Taylor said, 'This project will build on the success of the NCMA's previous work in developing community childminding networks to provide childcare support in areas like Kent, Warwickshire and South Wales. The Government's backing for this project is a wonderful endorsement of the important work of registered childminders in providing parenting support.' The initiative was announced back in February by the then-education and employment minister, Margaret Hodge.
'It's all about giving teenage parents choice about what they want for the future, whether to continue their education, training or work.' Its aim is to let them continue either their education or training in the knowledge that their children are being well looked after by registered childminders in providing support.
