Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1420. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will include childcare as an appropriate career for an apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38215/23]
View answerIn line with commitments in First 5, in December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in ELC and SAC. The Plan includes specific actions for moving to a graduate-led ELC workforce by 2028, establishing a career framework for staff working in the ELC and SAC sector, including role profiles and qualification requirements, and the strengthening of career pathways. Nurturing Skills also includes actions to support the recruitment and retention of staff with the necessary qualifications, and ongoing staff training and development, to create a workforce which feels valued and is motivated to deliver the best possible service to children.??
Pillar 4 of Nurturing Skills includes a commitment to examine the development of a range of entry routes into the sector, including apprenticeships or other work-based learning, and access programmes in further education and higher education. This action is included for delivery in the 2022-2024 implementation plan. Work on this action will begin shortly through commissioning research on alternative entry routes into the sector workforce.
While Nurturing Skills commits to examine alternative entry-routes, the development of an apprenticeship would rely on the formulation of proposals by employers and education institutions, and approval by the National Apprenticeship Office. The consideration and potential introduction of an apprenticeship model for early years educators is therefore not solely a policy matter for my Department. During the public consultation that took place in the development of Nurturing Skills, there were mixed views amongst stakeholders on the benefits of an apprenticeship model to support recruitment in the sector – some were in favour while some were opposed.
A particular challenge in designing an apprenticeship model suitable for the ELC sector is that apprentices are employees of providers, and all employees of ELC providers must meet a minimum qualification requirement (level 5) before they commence work with children and count in adult-child ratios.
While an apprenticeship specifically to support existing educators to upskill to Level 7/8 degrees is an option, Nurturing Skills also commits to offer funded places on flexible education programmes to current early years educators to support upskilling and strengthen career development pathways.
