This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Review of early years workforce
09/06/2004
A review of Scotland's early years workforce is expected
to open new doors for thousands of workers.
The review aims to improve employment opportunities for
early years and childcare staff and raise the status of the
sector. The review will deal with five key areas:
- Examining and defining the role and
responsibilities of staff in all areas of the early
years and childcare workforce;
- Improving workforce planning, to ensure that there
are adequate staff numbers in each area;
- Simplifying and modernising the early years and
childcare qualifications system;
- Providing greater opportunities for staff in one
area of the workforce to move to another;
- Considering the potential implications of this work
for pay and
conditions.
Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"We have invested more than ever before in the early
years sector and have seen the sector grow enormously and
rapidly. We now have over 30,000 people working in this
area.
"Our review will help consolidate, strengthen and shape
the future of early years and childcare employment,
ensuring it meets the needs of children, families and
staff.
"We need good workforce planning and a well-trained and
flexible workforce.
"This could make it easier for staff to move from one
area of the workforce to another, potentially opening up
new employment opportunities. This review will give the
stakeholders in the sector the chance to have their say
about the future of early years and childcare
employment.
"I don't want to give anyone the impression this review
will lead to automatic pay rises for workers in this
sector. The primary focus of this review is not pay and
conditions, but I recognise the work will have potential
implications for pay and conditions, for example, by
improving qualifications, career paths and the status of
the sector. That is why the review will consider the
implications of these considerations for pay and
conditions."
The review group will include trade union
representation, the Convention of Scottish Local
Authorities (CoSLA), the Scottish Social Services Council,
and representatives from the private and voluntary sectors
and parents.
The review will report to the Executive within one
year.
The review will look at a variety of workers in the
early years and childcare sector, including nursery nurses,
childminders, playworkers, and those working in
out-of-school clubs.
The review group will be chaired by a senior Scottish
Executive official and will include representation from:
CoSLA; UNISON; service providers from the statutory,
voluntary, social economy and private sectors; Scottish
Qualifications Authority; Scottish Social Services Council;
Further Education/Higher Education training provision; a
parents group.
From 2007, the early years and childcare workforce can
register with the Scottish Social Services Council and, in
due course, registration will become mandatory. All staff
need to hold a recognised qualification to register.
Early years and childcare workers are receiving
financial backing from the Executive to access
qualifications and training, with £15.6 million being made
available from 2003-2006 through the Workforce Development
Fund.
The Executive is investing £29 million in its Childcare
strategy for the coming year, £35 million for the Sure
Start programme, and £137 million for free part-time
pre-school education. A further £10 million is being
invested in the Working for Families Fund.