The London borough of Haringey's Childcare Partnership is a joint project organised by Reed in Partnership, part of the Reed recruitment and training group, and the College of North-East London. It is financed by the New Deal Innovation Fund and Urban Futures, a regeneration agency in north London.
The 20 lone parents on the pilot, who are currently on a six-month NVQ 2 course, continue to receive benefits, and have free childcare and a travel allowance. Once they are qualified they will be able to either become registered childminders or work in day nurseries.
The Childcare Partnership has been offering free business advice to nurseries in the borough to help them access funds to ensure they are using their full capacity. Its project manager, Annie Jordan, said, 'Some of the nurseries I have visited have wasted space and don't have the funding to use it. Obviously by doing this we are hoping that these lone parents with their new qualifications will be able to get jobs.'
The Childcare Partnership is planning to run two more courses for a further 40 lone parents over the next two years. Its aim is to create an additional 160 childcare places in the borough.
Mother of four Michelle Akerbousse from Tottenham, who is taking the NVQ 2 course, said, 'I always wanted a career in childcare, but fell pregnant when I was at school and left. Three of my children are now at school themselves and I'm ready to do the course.'
Since July all single parents across Haringey have been able to access free short-term childcare from three to four hours to a whole day so they can attend job interviews or training. Scott Parkin, operations manager for Reed in Partnership, said, 'One of the key things holding lone parents back from working is the chronic lack of childcare places in the borough. The Childcare Partnership tackles all aspects of that.'
For more information, contact the Childcare Partnership on 020 8880 4136.
