CACHE News & Press Releases

The Daycare Trust National Childcare Week 2010

25th February

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

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

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.

Heinemann Childcare student of the year award 2010 - nominations now open

4th February

It's that time of year again - a chance to nominate your outstanding Childcare students for the 2010 Heinemann and Nursery World Childcare Student of the Year Award!

Last year, talented CACHE student Abbey Wood of Ryton Comprehensive School scooped the title, and told us, “Achieving this prestigious award is the highlight of two really interesting years on the CACHE Diploma course, and I have really enjoyed celebrating with family and friends!” Abbey joined a long list of CACHE winners, including Jess Whitely of Plume College who won in 2008, and Happiness Brown of Kensington and Chelsea College who clinched the title in 2007.

If you know a Learner who has performed brilliantly on a CACHE childcare course and shows potential to be a fantastic practitioner, then nominate them for this prestigious award. Visit www.pearsonfe.co.uk/ChildcareAward2010 and complete the nomination form either online or return to the address included on the form by Wednesday 31 March 2010.

Information on the Heinemann Childcare student of the year award

Launch of Apprenticeship Week - 1st of February 2010

2nd February

Apprenticeship Week 2010 begins on 1st Feb, with a programme of exciting activities planned across England to celebrate the value and importance of Apprenticeships. To launch the week, new research has been released highlighting that employers are becoming more confident as we come out of the recession and over half are looking to take on new members of staff. Many of these staff will be apprentices.

For learners, the Apprenticeship Week website offers lots of useful resources such as a search tool which locates courses in their area, as well as an apprenticeship vacancies search tool which allows learners to log in and apply for the apprenticeship of their choice. You can also find information on the different types of apprenticeships available, including the Level 2 and Level 3 Children’s Care, Learning and Development which CACHE currently offers.

If you would like more information on the activities taking place across the country, use the events search map. If you are involved in any exciting events and would like to share details with us, please email newsletters@cache.org.uk

CACHE Endorsed Learning Programme approves Yoga4

1st February 2010

CACHE are pleased to announce their endorsement of 7 learning programmes, developed by Yoga4 - a specialist provider of training programmes, educational resources and consultancy services to individuals and organisations who wish to integrate yoga and relaxation techniques into their practice.

The seven Yoga4's training programmes endorsed by CACHE have been designed to support those working in a variety of settings including pregnancy, birth and antenatal services, nurseries, early years, pre-school & children and family settings, schools, workplaces and support services and settings for seniors.

The CACHE endorsement is given following in-depth scrutiny by a CACHE panel of experts, who will assess training programmes for quality and and academic rigour, appropriateness of level and assessment. Once the process is complete, CACHE will give their stamp of approval which gives both trainers and learners with certification which is both recognised by an awarding body and quality assurance.

Yoga4 is also partner to the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), the charity which aims to enhance the development and education of children in their early years. The Yoga4 Nurseries Training Programmes support the NDNA's "healthy body, happy me campaign" as well as providing a weath of benefits to children and practitioners.

Richard Dorrance expressed CACHE's pleasure at being associated with Yoga4's training programmes. "Candidates who achieve assessment outcomes will have a certificate with the CACHE logo which is recognised by employers nationally and in many countries overseas. Working with Yoga4 has also given CACHE the opportunity to get involved with some truely unique and innovative training programmes."

For more information on the Yoga4 programmes endorsed by CACHE, please visit the Yoga4 website.

CWDC invests £600,000 in Playwork Training

13th December

The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is to inject £600,000 into training for playworkers who want to boost their career prospects.

The cash will finance professionals to study the playwork NVQ Level 3 or the Level 3 award in playwork for early years and childcare workers, both qualifications which CACHE currently offers.

The Children's Plan committed to supporting 4,000 playworkers to achieve Level 3 qualifications by 2011. So far, 2,027 have enrolled on courses. The extra £600,000 funding is intended to help to drive that number up.

Deirdre Quill, director of integrated workforce at CWDC, said the extra money would improve professional development for playworkers and contribute to positive outcomes for children and young people. She said “We have so far invested more than £2.5 million into this sector. Professional development for the workforce is a cornerstone of creating better life chances for children, young people and their families. So we are delighted to be able to invest an extra £600,000 to ensure more playworkers can take on Level 3 qualifications”.

If you would like to take advantage of this boost to funding and complete a Playwork qualification, click for more info on the CACHE Level 3 NVQ in Playwork or the CACHE Level 3 Award in Playwork for early years and childcare workers

For more information on funding eligibility and application details visit the SkillsActive website.

Adult Learners Week 2010- case studies wanted

October 2009

Adult Learners Week is the UK’s largest and longest running learning campaign. Held each May, it encourages thousands of adults, whatever their age and background, to give learning a go. Adult Learners’ Week will take place from 15-21 May 2010. If you know an outstanding adult learner whose remarkable achievements have transformed lives, nominate them for an award here. The closing date for entries is 29th January 2010.

CACHE learner Abbey beats off tough competition to win the 2009 Heinemann and Nursery World Childcare Student of the Year Award

Outstanding CACHE Learner Abbey Wood was delighted to be announced winner of the 2009 Heinemann and Nursery World Childcare Student of the Year Award, in recognition of her talent and ‘grade A’ success.

Abbey is currently studying for the CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education at Ryton Comprehensive School, Tyne and Wear. Proud tutor Sue Stead told us, “Abbey has been an outstanding student since the first day of her course. She has achieved A grades throughout, possibly because she takes the time to research every child’s specific learning need. This is quite an achievement for our school as I have had to convince the traditionalist staff that CACHE Diploma Level three is a very worthwhile course and that it does lead to university entry.”

Abbey, was selected from 80 national entrants, and faced tough competition from the other 3 finalists, including fellow CACHE Learner Sadia Hussain, from Filton College in Bristol. The awards ceremony took place at Heinemann’s Head Office in Oxford, and the presentation was given by leading child care author Penny Tassoni; Liz Roberts, editor of Nursery World; Virginia Carter, Heinemann’s Commissioning Editor for Childcare and Sue Weston, National Workforce Development Manager for day care at National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA). Abbey received a certificate along with one year’s free subscription to Nursery World and a cheque for £300. Abbey’s school will also receive a £300 voucher to spend on Heinemann resources.

Since receiving the award, Abbey has been given more fantastic news with offers of two university places at Durham and Northumbria on teacher training degree courses. She told us, “Even when I qualify from university the CACHE qualification will still give me an advantage when I apply for jobs. I am so much more knowledgeable about things like EYFS, policies and procedures, legislation, equal opportunities, working with parents, multi-agency working and application of theory to the development and behaviour of the child. Achieving this prestigious award is the highlight of two really interesting years on the Diploma course, and I have really enjoyed celebrating with family and friends!