The early years sector's version of the conundrum, 'Which came first, the chicken or the egg?' is 'Which comes first when encouraging unemployed parents into work: the provision of training or childcare?'
The East London Childcare Institute's innovative answer is: neither. Offer both at once. ELCI, which was officially opened last month, aims to break the cycle of social exclusion and poverty in the area by giving parents access to its 57-place nursery while training them to become childcarers.
This neatly solves the problem facing many low-income families, particularly lone parents, who cannot afford quality childcare but must, if they are going to get the training and education they need to improve employment prospects.
The aim is to train 1,000 qualified childcare practitioners over the next five years, according to a spokesman for the London Development Agency, which provided the majority of the funds (see box).
Flexibility is a key feature both in timing and location of courses. Steve Clare, assistant chief executive of the Newham Training and Education Centre, which runs ELCI, says it acts as the hub for a network of outreach training provision. It is expanding into neighbouring boroughs, initially focusing on childminding and family learning. Most courses are on weekdays, but some community-based training is at weekends and evenings to fit in with families' commitments. There are plans to provide NVQ level 2 and 3 courses for childcare practitioners outside working hours.
'People who feel socially excluded are often not willing to travel. Running courses at local nurseries and local community centres, we think, is the way to reach people who would not otherwise travel. We are offering a raft of short courses to interest them, for example on nutrition or creative play. If we can get people in the door, then maybe we can attract them into further learning.'
ELCI also runs basic skills training for adult learners. According to the London Development Agency , an estimated 25 per cent of the population in the area have very low reading levels, and 55 per cent have similarly low numeracy levels.
There are plans to develop the range of courses offered as learners progress. Ultimately the institute may offer foundation degrees.
The nursery has funding under the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative, so while places for the children of learners are free, places for local residents are capped at 135 a week, and others are being offered to local employers at a higher commercial rate.
Alice Wahome, who this year is taking the CACHE foundation course in childcare, plans to progress next year to the diploma course. 'I could not have afforded to do this without the college nursery, as childcare is so expensive,' she says. 'There is really good learning support, so if you find something difficult there is always somebody there to assist you.'
The staff are trained to encourage learners to realise their potential. 'A huge problem is that people who have been failed by mainstream education almost have a feeling they are a failure before they start,' says Steve Clare. But he adds, 'Just having a qualification is not enough to be a success at work. You also need timekeeping skills, problem solving skills, communication skills.' For this reason ELCI has worked with companies in Canary Wharf to develop training in employability skills.
It is also helping local childcare settings by piloting a wage subsidy scheme to encourage managers to let staff attend day-release training and is offering business support for new and existing childcare projects.
Louisa Cargill (pictured) secured a place last September on the certificate in childcare and education course along with a place for her two-year-old son Dominic in the college nursery. She spends three days in college and two days on placement in the nursery.
'I'm really enjoying it. I was bored at home so I was eager to get my brain working again and I got stuck into the course straight away,' she says. 'I thought I might find the written assignments hard, but as long as I do my planning properly it goes quite easily.
'I would definitely recommend it even if you were not going to work in childcare. The knowledge it gives you is so useful for your own children.
'When I do my placement days I work in a different room from Dominic, but he's not interested in me when I'm there. He is far too busy doing his own things.
'I was worried he was becoming too reliant on me and would not settle in properly, but it's not affected him. Before, he was quite clingy, but he's a different child now. It has been really good for him.'
Louisa hopes that the certificate, coupled with her GCSEs, will enable her to get a place at university. 'I did want to be a child counsellor but having done this course, I'd like to become a play therapist.' NW
A JOINT EFFORT
The partnership which developed ELCI includes public, private and voluntary sectors. The lead partner is the Newham Training and Education Centre, established 21 years ago to provide high-quality training and employment support to women in the East End of London.
The building cost 6.5 million, excluding legal fees and IT equipment, of which 3.74 million came from the LDA, 1.2m from the European Regional Development Fund, 550,000 from the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative, 135,000 from the Learning and Skills Council's expanding childcare places programme, 500,000 from London East Learning and Skills Council and 100,000 from Bridge House Estates Trust Fund. The LSC has nominated ELCI for Centre of Vocational Excellence status.
Visit www.newtec.ac.uk and click on the link to ELCI.