CACHE News & Press Releases
 CACHE Level 3 Diploma for Children's Care Learning and Development (QCF) 501/1024/X.12th August 2010 This new QCF qualification forms part of the Childcare suite for Wales and NI. Centres will be able to register learners from 1st January 2011. Further information on the new qualification will shortly be available on NDAQ (National Database for Accredited Qualifications. Click here to visit their website.
Follow CACHE on twitter5th August 2010 You can now view CACHE updates via twitter in real time! Following us is simple, either by going into twitter, searching "cacheorg" and clicking "follow" or by clicking on the new twitter logo at the bottom right hand side of the homepage to go to twitter.com.
CACHE top of the class again at Heinemann and Nursery World Childcare
Student of the Year Awards 201023rd July 2010 Outstanding CACHE students scoop top 4 awards in 2010 Heinemann and Nursery World AwardsThis July saw the tenth annual Heinemann and Nursery World Childcare Student of the Year Awards take place. The awards, which recognise bright students that show potential to be outstanding practitioners, saw CACHE students take all four top spots. 
The winner, 18 year-old Faye Hudson from Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College in Cheshire, is currently studying for her CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education. Faye’s knowledge of child development and her ability to apply theoretical knowledge was the winning factor that helped her clinch the title. The selection process included the finalists having to each give a presentation on how they would work with children and parents in real-life childcare scenarios. The judging panel, made up of Nursery World editor Liz Roberts, childcare author Penny Tassoni, CACHE Chief Examiner Ann Brooks and Wendy Taylor co-coordinator of Alban Way Children's Centre, St Albans, then had to consider all presentations before deciding on the winner. The runners up all also CACHE students, were Nikita Dennis, studying for her CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education at Calderdale College, Emma Twigg, studying for her CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Children's Care, Learning and Development at Derby College and Emma Twigg, studying for her CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Children's Care, Learning and Development at Derby College. Faye, who is hoping to continue her studies by undertaking an Early Childhood Studies degree in September, received a cheque for £300 and a year's free subscription to Nursery World magazine. Her college also received £300 of Heinemann vouchers. The runners-up were each awarded a £100 cheque and £100 worth of Heinemann vouchers for their colleges.
Announcement: Closure of the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA)28th May 2010 On Thursday 27th May 2010, the Secretary of State for Education Micheal Gove MP wrote a letter to Chris Trinick, the Chairman of Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), confirming legislation to abolish the agency is due to be introduced this autumn. In the letter, the Secretary of State highlights that the agency undertakes some vital work that should continue, he says “My decision does not mean that everything QCDA does will stop: indeed, it is crucial that some vital work should continue’ ; he goes on to outline his proposals to retain some of the functions the QCDA is involved with. To view the full letter, please click here: http://www.education.gov.uk/news/letters/~/media/Files/lacuna/news/goveqcda270510.ashx.
Learning Aims Database: Update28th May 2010 We understand that Centres are keen to see more information on the new CACHE Qualifications on the Learning Aims Database (LAD), and we are monitoring the situation very closely. We now have six qualifications on the 2009/10 database: - CACHE Diploma for The Children and Young People's Workforce (QCF)
- CACHE Certificate in Caring for Children (QCF)
- CACHE Award in Caring for Children (QCF)
- CACHE Certificate in Playwork (QCF)
- CACHE Diploma in Playwork (NVQ) (QCF)
- CACHE Award in Playwork (QCF)
We do not expect any specific information on funding for a few more weeks
Canterbury Tales -
CACHE was delighted to help support the first Early Years Conference at Canterbury College 10th May 2010 Just before Easter Canterbury College held its first ever Early Years Conference and the day was a huge success; enjoyed by over 120 Early Years students, College staff, stakeholders and employers from local nurseries. CACHE was happy to have been invited to talk to students on the Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education.  The event was organized by staff at the college as part of the College curriculum and also as a response to employer feedback. Dr Robinson, an Independent Adviser in Early Development was the guest speaker and was joined by representatives from CACHE’s national office.. Sandra Langley, Section Manager of Early Years & Play Work at Canterbury College said: ‘This is the first time that we have held an event like this. It was clear from student and stakeholder feedback that it would be a great opportunity to bring students and employers together and for both groups to get updates from industry and the academic world’.
Dr. Maria Robinson, (PhD) said: ‘I thought that the event went so well. The welcome, the organisation and the general 'feel' of the day was wonderful and the students were attentive and receptive and clearly wanted to do well.’ Dr Robinson gave a very insightful talk about sensory and brain development in babies and how attachment influenced development in later life. After an opening talk the Students went off to take part in workshops and employers learnt about CACHE curriculum updates and also enjoyed canapés and beauty services from other college students. The event was designed for students on a CACHE Level 3 two year course, who gain their qualification through a combination of lessons at College and industry work placements. The insight and industry contacts would be vital for them as they work towards becoming nursery nurses or progressing onto university on Early Years or teaching degrees. The 2011 Early Years Conference has already been booked out in the calendar. Please visit http://www.canterburycollege.ac.uk/health for more photos and info on next year's conference.
Cayman Islands Pilot Project leads to Qualification Success 31st March 2010 For the past two years Neila Jones, manager of the Caymen Brac Daycare Centre, Cayman Islands (BWI), has been studying the NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development. Working with the UK based training organisation, The Childcare Company; she has accessed the online lessons and talked regularly with her assessor via Skype.  Gemma Eaton, Neila's assessor travelled to the Cayman Islands to carry out the assessment of her knowledge and skills. Other forms of assessment were completed and uploaded to The Childcare Company's unique e-portfolio 'Laser' system and sucessfully gained the qualification. Gemma expressed her pride in Neila's achievement "Neila was a model student. She went through all the online lessons, activities, videos and reading texts. She showed through her assessments that she met the criteria for the award".
Kate stated "This pilot project has been a tremendous success and we now hope to open it up to others on the Island who wish to access good quality training. The Childcare Company were very efficient in delivering the training. I have now trained as an assessor so the training can be delivered by The Childcare Company, and assessment can be carried out by me. It is a good partnership that will benefit childcare workers and the children they care for".
CACHE provided special permission for the qualification to be delivered outside the UK. Richard Dorrance expressed his congratulations to Neila and his delight that the pilot had a fruitful conclusion. We are looking forward to being able to award more Cayman Island childcare practioners with CACHE qualifications in the future.
The Daycare Trust National Childcare Week 2010 25th February 2010 The Daycare Trust have recently announced the dates for National Childcare Week 2010, which will run from Monday 12 July to Monday 19 July, with events taking place in childcare settings up and down the country. Children and young people up to the age of 14 will be invited to take part in their competition "what I want to be" which is kindly sponsored by The Children's Mutual. To sign up to receive the competition details, or to get involved by organising your own event or activity, you can email The Daycare Trust at nationalchildcareweek@daycaretrust.org.uk For more information on National Childcare Week visit http://www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk/get_involved/
Children's Star Awards 2010 - nominations now open 23rd February 2010 Once again, 4Children is searching for ‘stars’ from early years, childcare, extended services, children’s centres and youth services sectors, who have made a real difference to the lives of the children and families they care for. Nominations are welcome from parents, friends, family, work colleagues, Sure Start programmes, nurseries, pre-schools, childcare networks, Sure Start Children’s Centres, schools, extended services, out of school clubs, holiday schemes, and you can even nominate yourself! . 4Children is looking for exceptional childcarers in a number of categories, including: - Childminder of the Year
- Newcomer of the Year
- Early Years Practitioner of the Year
- Award for Supporting Parents and Families
- Childcare Team of the Year open to teams of two or more, for example two childminders working together or a childminding network).
The deadline for nominations is 23 April 2010 and finalists will be invited to attend the awards ceremony in London on Wednesday, 23 June. To download a nomination form, and to read more about the awards, visit http://www.4children.org.uk/whatwedo/view/node/205.
National Family Week 19th February 2010 The UK’s second National Family Week will this year take place between 31st May and 6th June, with a series of events, competitions and giveaways planned to celebrate family life in all shapes and sizes. During the week numerous fun activities and events for families will take place across the UK run by schools, charities, youth groups, shopping centres, community groups, local authorities and National Family Week’s commercial partners. CACHE are an active supporter of National Family Week and are proud for our profile to appear on the website Chief Executive Richard Dorrance says “ We recognise how important family life is to a child’s personal and social development, and many of our qualifications support and encourage working closely with families to help children realise their potential. National Family Week is a wonderful idea and I look forward to hearing more about the exciting activities planned” If you would like some inspiration on how to get involved in National Family Week please check out the ideas sheet, or visit http://www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk/get_involved/ If you are a CACHE Centre, you could also use this opportunity to celebrate the achievements of your learners. For instance - Perhaps a Learner has shown exceptional awareness of working with families, and volunteers for community activities that engage with them in their spare time?
- Do you know a Learner who has completed a CACHE qualification and developed a successful career that involves working closely with families (for instance, within a children’s centre, as a family liaison officer, or a parent support advisor within a school)?
- Do you know of a Learner who has successfully balanced their family commitments with studying to achieve a CACHE qualification?
- Perhaps you know of grandparents or other family members who might have taken CACHE qualifications to support them as they care for their grandchildren/nieces/nephews etc?
If you have any relevant success stories you would like us to promote on the CACHE website, please email details to casestudies@cache.org.uk For more information about National Family Week, visit their website.
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