Designed to show the diverse occupational roles available across the sector, the careers toolkit contains practical advice for training and education routes, including the new T Level in Education and Childcare.
The role of men in childcare is a key theme that runs throughout it, in order to encourage increased gender diversity within the sector.
CACHE, in partnership with leading industry experts*, developed the toolkit in response to the Early Years Workforce Commission’s January report, A Workforce in Crisis: Saving our Early Years, which highlighted the need for an awareness campaign to promote crucial role that early years professionals play in early childhood education.
The report found that 33 per cent of respondents suggested that they are unlikely to stay in the sector after they leave their current role and more than 50 per cent said low pay was the main factor resulting in people leaving the sector.
This toolkit is intended to be a rich source of careers guidance for prospective and current students, tutors, careers advisors and parents.
Janet King, sector manager for Education and Childcare at CACHE, who launched the toolkit at a webinar on 3 February, which is still available on demand, said, ‘We are delighted to launch this toolkit to the sector, at a time when it may be needed the most. Our aim is for this to be an organic, interactive careers support package that will evolve. Employer and student voices, and feedback from schools, colleges and higher education institutions are welcomed to keep the toolkit up to date and fit for purpose for the sector. We will continue to provide tools and resources, including webinars, for staff and students to support the sector.’
A second webinar will take place on 16 March at 12pm where subject specialists will be joined by Sandy Silvester, director of operations at CACHE and Paul Moore, senior training officer from Busy Bees Education and Training.
This webinar will include top hiring tips; the importance of quality training and the careers that can be embarked upon in the sector. It will also provide an overview of the toolkit.
* CACHE works in partnership with Busy Bees; University of Cumbria; Doncaster College; Early Years Alliance; Fatherhood Institute; Kids Planet; Lancaster University; London Early Years Foundation; Warwick University; University of Plymouth; University of Wolverhampton and University of Worcester.
Education and Childcare T Level Careers Toolkit (cache.org.uk)