Find out all you need to know about becoming a Wales Childcare Works project placement setting for NDNA Cymru’s Childcare Works project and the benefits to you of having a participant.
If you become a work placement setting for the NDNA Cymru Wales Childcare Works project, you will be supporting the early years and childcare workforce in Wales by enabling individuals to gain experience in the sector to go into future employment.
Many of the nurseries that have previously provided work placements for the project’s Trainee Nursery Assistants have employed their participant on a permanent contract.
Read our Childcare Works press release.
How the Wales Childcare Works project works
Once funding for the project is secured, NDNA Cymru sources participants from specified local authorities across Wales.
Settings supporting the project provide a 12 week work placement for a trainee nursery assistant to work 16 hours a week.
Participants receive support spanning 16 weeks including:
- A 12 week, paid (by NDNA Cymru) placement at a setting
- On-going support and guidance throughout their placement from NDNA Cymru
- Four weeks of paid training from NDNA Cymru.
This project gives settings a chance to make their workforce more diverse – participants are from different backgrounds with differing levels of experience.
It will support with recruitment, giving settings the opportunity to see a Trainee Nursery Assistant’s work in practice with their children and staff over a three month period.
Where does Childcare Works take place?
The project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver in Conwy and Pembrokeshire.
When will it take place?
NDNA will be delivering two cohorts in Conwy, the first commences on 22 January 2024 and the second on 3 June 2024.
We will also be delivering two cohorts in Pembrokeshire, the first in Haverfordwest commencing 24 April 2024 and the second in Milford Haven commencing 23 July 2024.
Training
Whilst on placement your Trainee Nursery Assistant receives NDNA training alongside their placement in a childcare setting.
The training courses span four-weeks and cover all mandatory training such as safeguarding and paediatric first aid, as well as a number of early years and childcare specific sessions. Participants will be DBS checked by NDNA Cymru prior to being on placement.
If participants are new to the childcare, early years and play sector, they will gain the skills and knowledge to be able to begin their placement opportunity at a setting.
Are there any criteria to be a placement setting?
Settings must be able to provide work for 16 hours a week for 12 weeks.
Childcare Works testimonials and case studies
Trainee Nursery Assistant testimonials:
“Placement has been fantastic. I have loved meeting so many different children, all with different personalities. The staff and children have made me feel welcome, given me confidence and most importantly, self-belief. I was asked if I would be interested in becoming part of their team. At the start of this course I could never have imagined that it would end with me getting my dream job in an amazing nursery with such lovely staff and children. I am so grateful for being part of this NDNA programme.”
– Swansea participant
“The course was really good as an introduction into childcare and helping you access the workplace. There was a good balance between theory and practical and the initial theory was very helpful. The childcare modules that I completed to prepare for the work placement, and the placement itself, was very helpful to prepare me for work and build my confidence. The support given by the course tutor throughout the course and assisting to find a suitable placement and then work was amazing, invaluable and rewarding as it has led to finding a job in a childcare setting.” – Conwy participant
Placement setting testimonials:
“We were happy to be approached to take part in the NDNA scheme, it’s a great way of supporting people in their journey into working within childcare. It’s always been an easy and positive experience for us and we would definitely carry on with the programme. We are very pleased to have had a candidate that proved to be very valuable and liked by all the staff and children, that we offered them a permanent position within our setting.”
– setting in Swansea
“I would definitely recommend working with the childcare works project, they had excellent communication weekly asking questions about the trainee and if they were meeting standards of the nursery. All information was sent about the trainee early before starting placement and we were informed if the trainee was absent. We have really enjoyed working with the childcare works project.”
– setting in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Case studies
- Hill Tots Nursery case study
- Li’l Angels case study
- Cylch Meithrin Penderyn case study
- Buttercups Day Nursery case study.
To find out more:
Email: [email protected] or call: 01824 707823
