Work Matters: Careers - A day in the life ..Claire Lakin, training co-ordinator

Role: Leicester City Council training co-ordinator

Qualifications: Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector, BTEC National Diploma In Caring Services (Nursery Nursing), Introductory Diploma in Leadership & Management

This busy role sits within a team which is responsible for raising quality in childcare provision. Workforce development is key to this because however smart or well equipped a nursery, creche or childminder's home is, it will not be of high quality without well trained staff who are sensitive to the needs of children and families.

The role of the training co-ordinator is to ensure that enough opportunities for appropriate qualification training and continuing professional development are being provided in the city.

8.30am: I arrive in the office to meet with the two trainers to plan the next part of the training on the Early Years Foundation Stage. We decide on the key messages and outline of the training.

10.00am: I catch up with my e-mails and phone messages.

11.00am: I travel in to town to the printers to read through the first draft of next term's training brochure and to discuss its design. There are some mistakes in the printing, which is going to delay the date when the brochure will be ready. Getting this out on time is crucial, as I have to ensure that it leaves settings enough time to book training and to get staff covered.

12.00pm: I take an early lunch and use this time to catch up with some new information sent to me by the Children's Workforce Development Council.

12.30pm: I meet with my manager to discuss the results of this year's workforce audit. This is data which people who work in childcare submit to us each year. It informs us about the training needs of the workforce, and I use it as a basis for planning our training programmes for both qualifications and continuing professional development.

2.30pm: I spend time with my training administrator putting together the agenda for the next network meeting for Early Years Professionals (EYPs). This network has been set up to support graduates working in childcare with their own professional development. I leave the administrator to book the venue and the guest speaker, and to create and mail out the invitation.

3.30pm: It's time for me to chair the training forum. Local training providers meet and we make decisions about what qualification training will be needed for the next academic year.

5.00pm: It has been a long busy day. The trainers are just setting up for a twilight training session, so the office is still busy when I head off home.

WHAT IT TAKES

A training co-ordinator's role can be varied, challenging and interesting. Employed by both private and statutory organisations, they are responsible for mapping training needs, sourcing and developing the right training, evaluating its delivery and quality, and very often delivering training themselves as well.

When employed by a local authority, the person is responsible for developing and maintaining quality within the early years and childcare sector locally.

This requires working within a team to ensure that statutory minimum qualifications are met and continuing professional development in the Early Years Foundation Stage, care, safeguarding and management is available and engaged with.

The co-ordinator will frequently arrange an annual inset training programme. They will facilitate training, negotiate with training providers and venues, and commission and evaluate training, as well as work directly with employers to engage staff in further training, and training needs analyses.

It is therefore essential to have a dynamic range of skills such as good communication and presentation ability, to be able to relate sensitively to people in a range of public, private and voluntary agencies, and to have excellent organisational and planning skills.

If training and facilitation is part of the role, it is essential to have at least a certificate in adult teaching and learning, as well as a professional qualification at level 3, 4 or 5 in early years care and education, childhood studies or playwork, along with practice experience.

Business and or project management qualifications are complementary to the role. These would be particularly beneficial to support the administrative elements of the job, such as finance, human resources and project management.

Career progression from this role is varied. It may include opportunities to be a training manager or a head of childcare in a college, planning, managing and developing curriculum provision.

A degree and PGCE level teaching qualifications, substantial teaching experience and a management qualification would be essential to these roles.