A popular foundation course in childcare is catching them early, and reaching those who thought it was too late, says Mary Evans
Students in schools and colleges around the country are signing up for a foundation course providing an introduction to the basic principles of childcare and education, which has been designed as a stepping stone to lead them on to a career in the early years sector.
The CACHE Foundation Award in Caring for Children (CFCC) was launched nationwide this September, replacing the CACHE award Caring for Young Children. Successful completion of the course does not confer practitioner status upon students, but it does set them on the road to professional qualifications.
CACHE does not insist on any entry qualifications for the foundation award. A spokeswoman says it is suitable for:
- Key Stage 4 pupils in school
- 16- to 19-year-olds in further education colleges or school sixth forms
- Mature returnees to work or entrants to the occupational field.
The course has been created for students who, because of past experiences or current circumstances, are unable or unwilling to access a more academic or vocational course. They can include mature students who have been so long away from learning that they lack confidence to enrol on a professional course. They might also be people for whom English is a second language, who are deterred from embarking on a course requiring a high degree of language skills.
It also caters for young people who have perhaps had a negative experience at school and have not achieved high-grade GCSEs, as well as pupils aged 14 to 16 at school.
The CACHE spokeswoman says that because the course provides a basic knowledge and understanding of the key areas in caring for children, it can be used as a first step on the road to a career in childcare. 'But if a student decided not to pursue that option he or she will have still gained gain key personal skills to support him or her in all walks of life, as it meets the government's National Childcare Strategy requirements for practical parenting skills and it covers aspects of citizenship.'
Although the programme concentrates on providing an introduction to the type of knowledge and understanding required when working in childcare, education and playwork, it also focuses on key issues of personal development, such as how to apply for a job, time management and working as a team member.
The spokeswoman adds, 'The course looks at learning for life and how to play one's full part as a member of one's community and it prepares the students for work. Quite often after taking this, people will be able to jump straight into coping with an NVQ 3.'
The level one award equates in breadth and content to two GCSEs at grades E-F and is included in the National Qualifications Framework for Early Years Care and Education. The award programme can be run as a one-year full-time course in college or alongside other studies in colleges or schools. Centres are permitted to provide the course as a part-time option, but CACHE recommends that in what- ever format it is delivered it encompasses a total of 350 hours of study plus 90 hours of work experience.
Early years consultant and author Penny Tassoni, who has written a text book for the course, says it gives a simple introduction to the key principles of childcare. 'The idea was to provide people with the basic information and make it as accessible as possible. They can use this as their starting point. 'It was quite challenging explaining concepts in a very simple fashion, but I have worked as an adult literacy tutor, which was a great help. The book is colourful and lively so that when you are reading it does not feel like you are learning.'
Carol Davies, who tutored the course when it was piloted at Sheffield College, has researched the problems of low-achieving students and found that the course helped them overcome their problems. Indeed, on completion of the programme some students were able to move on to a level 3 course. 'All but two of the girls who completed the first course went on to take professional childcare courses. Those other two came back in to see us with their babies. One told me that there was information she would not have known about her own baby if she had not been on the course!'
