Children's Workforce Development Council: Bridge to build over skills gap
Simon Vevers
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Children's Workforce Development Council has completed the third stage of its Sector Skills Agreement (SSA), setting the ground for action plans to bridge the gap between the demand for skills and the supply of training in the early years sector.
It is the latest instalment in the CWDC's drive to improve access tosuitable training for early years staff, ensure that qualifications arestreamlined and fit for purpose and make funding readily available.
In the first two stages of the SSA, it found the delivery of trainingand qualifications was 'supplier-driven and does not sufficiently meetthe needs of employers and the workforce'. It also revealed thatcompletion rates for childcare learning and development apprenticeshipswere low, partly due to a 'lack of employer engagement'.
In December, the CWDC published Delivering the Big Deal, which sets outthe skills challenges and priorities for the workforce. A separatereport has been prepared detailing the third stage of the SSAprocess.
In developing the SSA, the council conducted a consultation amongemployers and practitioners and found that despite a consensus on theneed to improve skills, recruitment initiatives were unlikely to beimplemented by employers without having 'mandatory requirements'.
The CWDC is now working on the last two stages of the SSA, with stagefour looking at how the organisation will engage with the sector and'communicate national skills priorities'. Stage five will involveemployers, the workforce and other stakeholders finalising regional andnational action plans.
CWDC chief executive Jane Haywood urged them all 'to get involved sothat we can truly have a workforce that makes a difference to the livesof our children'. The final SSA report is due to be published inApril.
Further Information www.cwdcouncil.org.uk.
