Charity awarded Bronze Award from the Defence Employment Recognition Scheme
The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has been recognised for its work supporting Armed Forces communities with the Bronze Award from the Armed Forces Covenant Employment Recognition Scheme (ERS).
The ERS acknowledges employers that provide exceptional support to the Armed Forces community. It encompasses Bronze, Silver and Gold awards for employers that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the Armed Forces community and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Tim McLachlan, Chief Executive of NDNA said:
“We are extremely proud to have been awarded the Bronze Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. This recognition reflects NDNA’s strong commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community and to being an Armed Forces‑friendly employer.
“Through our work, particularly our Childcare Works military programme, we see first‑hand the invaluable skills, resilience and experience that service personnel and their families can bring to working in early years settings. At a time when our sector is facing a workforce crisis, we want to broaden opportunities for people to join our amazing sector.
“We are committed to helping remove barriers to employment, providing meaningful training and supporting long‑term careers into the early years sector.
“Signing the Armed Forces Covenant and receiving this Bronze Award is an important step in our journey, and we look forward to building on this foundation as we continue to develop and strengthen our support for the Armed Forces community.”
Pauline King, Regional Employer Engagement Director, Defence Relationship Management said:
“We are pleased to welcome NDNA into the growing network of Covenant signatories across Yorkshire and the Humber and warmly congratulate NDNA on being granted Bronze Award status in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). This early recognition highlights their proactive approach to building an Armed Forces-friendly organisation. We look forward to working closely with them on their ERS journey as they continue to develop and embed their support for the Armed Forces community.”
Our Childcare Works military programme
We are extremely proud to work closely with the Armed Forces community through our Childcare Works military programme. It is a 16-week course delivering weekly one-to-one support to empower military families to regain confidence, build financial stability, overcome barriers to civilian employment and learn to utilise the extensive skills gained from military life.
Specifically, the programme aims to:
- Deliver one-to-one support to help increase self-confidence, improve mental wellbeing and enhance employability skills
- Provides opportunity to reduce isolation through group and peer support
- Empower those wishing to explore a career in early years
- Deliver three level 2 childcare-specific accredited qualifications and a range of transferrable skills to demonstrate achievement
- Provides a pathway to undertake formal childcare qualifications required to work in the sector at levels 2 and 3.
There are no gender, upper age or other restrictions and financial support is offered, so that no one faces barriers of exclusion. We also want to build on the success of the programme and have plans to introduce a training module on Emotional Resilience for future military programmes.
We delivered our first Armed Forces project between 2024-25, supporting 10 partners of serving military personnel as trainee nursery assistants across two cohorts.
- The project was delivered over 16 weeks, consisting of one month of training, followed by 12-weeks of nursery placements
- Participants were provided with a salary, to work 16 hours per week for the 16 weeks of the programme
- Eight out of the 10 participants went into employment in early years as a result of being supported by the project
- Nine settings were used for placements, providing them with the opportunity to employ trainee nursery assistants and providing them with an ‘extra pair of hands’ at no extra cost to the nursery.
We are currently delivering another Armed Forces project, supporting six partners of serving military personnel:
- They have completed the training phase and are currently on placements
- Six settings were provided with placement opportunities
- Placements will be completed in July
- Participants will receive a salary for the 16 weeks of the project.
We are delighted to share some case studies from our Childcare Works programme funded by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust:
Nicola Harrison – Trainee Nursery Assistant Experience
“Looking back, joining the NDNA Childcare Works Project has been one of the most rewarding decisions I have ever made. The support I received throughout the process gave me the confidence to step into a completely new field after my military career. I am excited to continue this journey in childcare, where I can make a positive impact on young lives while growing personally and professionally.”
Rebecca Webster – Trainee Nursery Assistant Experience
“Since starting my 12-week placement, the guidance provided by the trainers as well as the opportunity to gain hands on experience has enabled me to develop a thorough understanding of working in childcare. The manager has also indicated that I am able to pursue a Level 3 Childcare qualification if I choose to do so.
“I am so appreciative of the continued support throughout the process. Having nearly completed the placement, I am pleased to share that I have received an offer to join the nursery where I did my placement. The manager also indicated that I could pursue a Level 3 Childcare qualification if I choose to do so.
“I am excited about the prospect of continuing this career path, which I am passionate about and genuinely enjoy. The opportunity would not have been possible without the Childcare Works project and I hope others are able to do the same.”
You can find out more about our Childcare Works programme here: https://ndna.org.uk/early-years-training-for-veterans-and-their-partners/
- England
- Wales
- Celebrating Our Sector
- Childcare Works
- early education
- early years CPD opportunities
- early years education training
- Nursery Training and Development
- Staffing
- workforce crisis
- young children
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