New training arm for UK’s largest charitable childcare provider

Wednesday, 3 January 2007 – Schoolfriend etc, the UK’s largest charitable childcare provider, today announced the launch of its new training arm, Schoolfriend tec.

Schoolfriend etc, which provides after-school, holiday and breakfast clubs, has established Schoolfriend tec in order to ensure and maintain high-quality provision across the childcare arena and to help meet the Government’s ambitious targets for out-of-hours care.

Schoolfriend tec is delivering a number of short courses and National Vocational Qualifications in Playwork that will help towards the creation of a skilled workforce. This, in turn, will assist Local Authorities, schools and voluntary organisations in meeting the Government’s Extended Schools’ Agenda without compromising quality or standards.

Commenting on the launch of the new service, Head of Services at Schoolfriend etc Fiona Mortlock said:

“As a result of running our own clubs, we have become increasingly aware of how learning and development is a significant factor in enabling the childcare workforce to meet the constantly changing, and forever increasing demands, on the Playwork sector. The Government’s ambitious targets for extended schools means that more and more clubs are opening every week and we want to make sure that these are being run to the highest possible standards.

Responsibility for learning and development works best when it’s shared between the employer and the employees and Schoolfriend tec provides support for both parties. Our pilot scheme for thirty staff has proved to be a great success and we’re confident that the programme will go from strength to strength.”

The training programme is accepted by OFTSED and focuses on all the skills needed to operate effectively in the Playwork sector. It includes a number of childcare courses including First Aid, Equal Opportunities and Behaviour Management as well as National Vocational Qualifications Level 2 and 3 in Playwork, which are accredited by CACHE.

The training will be offered to all employees via on-the-job training, so they reap the benefits of both practice and theory. Workshops are also being offered directly to schools and local authorities.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

· Schoolfriend etc provides high quality, affordable childcare in schools across the UK. It has been running after-school, breakfast and holiday clubs since 2003 and is now the largest charitable provider of childcare in the country.

· It currently runs 500 clubs reaching over 80,000 children, operating in 72 of the 150 local authorities.

· Children improve their Numeracy and Literacy on web-based software that’s provided by the Club, as well as participating in Schoolfriend Extra activities.

· Schoolfriend etc was founded in 2002 by Amanda and Stephen Argent. Their vision was to utilise school facilities after 3.30pm by opening up schools to working parents and their children. From the outset, Schoolfriend etc was designed to make a positive impact on both children’s lives and the local community.

· Schoolfriend Clubs assist schools in fulfilling the Government’s Extended Schools Agenda – by 2010 every school needs to provide care from 8am to 6pm – and the Every Child Matters programme by offering out of school provision on school premises without the burden of the schools having any additional cost or administration.

·Schoolfriend Clubs are fully approved by Ofsted and have a high adult to child ratio that allows staff to spend a lot of individual time with each child.