Nursery World - The way to a man's job

By Ian Maxwell, deputy director of One Parent Families Scotland Scottish education minister Cathy Jamieson recently urged men to opt for childcare careers in a keynote speech to the 'When Men Become Carers' conference in Edinburgh, organised jointly by One Parent Families Scotland and Men in Childcare. At the same time she announced that an extra 2.4m was going to Scottish local authorities from 2004 onwards, bringing the total amount available for childcare workforce training up to 6m per year.

conference in Edinburgh, organised jointly by One Parent Families Scotland and Men in Childcare. At the same time she announced that an extra 2.4m was going to Scottish local authorities from 2004 onwards, bringing the total amount available for childcare workforce training up to 6m per year.

Ms Jamieson pointed to success in Edinburgh, where 40 men are currently studying for childcare qualifications, and said, 'I would like to see more men in childcare to counteract the view that this is somehow "women's work".'

Men in Childcare has recruited and supported more than 130 men in childcare training in and around Edinburgh since January 2001, from bank managers to bus drivers - with very few having worked in childcare and most thinking they never could.

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