Training Thematic Working Group
The Training Thematic Working Group was established in order to work on training issues at a strategic level on behalf of the whole childcare sector in Dublin City.
DCCC is committed to the ongoing development of its citywide Training Thematic Working group. The purpose of this approach is to build strong representative structures at a citywide level that can contribute to the work of DCCC and to wider fora. The Training Thematic working group’s focus has been in relation to programme development and progression of key training policy issues. The group has developed a mission statement and terms of reference. The group serves as an important information exchange forum. The group is divided into two levels. It is made up of a Strategic Policy Sub-group and a wider Network group. The stakeholders involved with both groups include: a DCCC business support officer who acts as a coordinator of the group; a DCCC board member; representatives from NVCO’s, and training agency representatives – from both statutory & ‘private’ training organisations.
The strategic policy sub-group held 5 meetings in 2009 to update, review, monitor, progress and support the foundation for the development of the new National Childcare Training Strategy which is being developed from the National Childcare Co-ordinating Committee’s model framework for childcare training. The group identified its' key priorities for 2008 and developed an annual work plan during a facilitated session in January. This prioritised the training consultative document which CCCs are still awaiting. Other areas which were identified as warranting particular focus in the work plan were: consultation with FETAC, assisting in the roll-out of Síolta and the new curriculum, the Association of Childcare Professionals, research into pay-scales and research into modular degrees in childcare.
One of the key areas which the group focused on last year was Síolta, The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education. DCCC appointed a person to run a small pilot initiative to determine the kinds of support that services need to implement Síolta. The coordinator will work with a small cluster of early year’s settings on the development of Síolta practices around a number of standards.
The aim of this work is to find out what level of support is required by services in the implementation of Síolta and to develop some guidelines for the delivery of Síolta. The role of the coordinator will be to support participant services to develop quality in their service using Síolta as a quality framework and drawing on existing frameworks such as the preschool regulations, the NCNA quality programme and the IPPA quality improvement programme. The coordinator will familiarise services with the Síolta framework, collect baseline information on quality standards and support services in implementing Síolta standards.
This requires
- the selection of a minimum of 5 participant childcare services from a cross section of services with a view to achieving a mix of service types. This will be carried out in conjunction with DCCC.
- collecting baseline information on participants’ knowledge and experience of Síolta
- piloting the implementation of a number of Síolta standards through a process of workshops, on-site support and reflective practice
- through the implementation process, identifying the supports that services need in order to implement Síolta
- through the implementation process, suggesting a model of implementation for Síolta
- a report to be written on the learning and development of the service
Two meetings of the wider training network group took place in 2009. The first meeting took place in April. A representative from FETAC was invited to speak to the group and she presented on the developments taking place within FETAC in relation to childcare training programmes. The network meeting was well attended and very positive feedback was received. The second meeting was held in October. A representative from the NCNA spoke to the group about their Skillnet. The group exchanged information and updates on: training developments and courses, conferences attended or forthcoming, new publications and resources, and information on new policy developments.
The DCCC board rep and staff member feed back information to the manager and board of DCCC at the monthly executive meetings and bi-monthly board meetings.
The group meet four times a year and at the start of each year complete a Work plan stating their aims for the year ahead.