Training boost for early years staff

Plans to fund a range of training schemes to raise the qualification levels of the early years workforce have been announced.

In its response to the children’s workforce strategy, the government outlined how it would use the £210m transformation fund to improve training standards between 2006 and 2008.

It will set aside more than £75m to increase the number of early years staff with level 3 qualifications – equivalent to A-level – and improve training for those working with disabled children.
A further £70m will be handed to workplaces with managers who have degree-level qualifications to improve training for non-graduate staff.

And it will invest more than £50m to improve the supply of early years staff by funding fees, bursaries and supply cover for people going on accredited courses.

Proposals on the children’s social care workforce are being considered by the government’s Options for Excellence review, which is due to report in the spring.