Agenda and minutes

Resolved:-  That Councillor Gosling be appointed Chairman of this Sub-Group.

(Councillor Gosling in the Chair).  

Resolved:-  That Councillor Boyes be appointed Vice-Chairman of this Sub-Group.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the above meeting be received and agreed.

(1)  Minute No. 2 - Matters arising - Children’s Information Service

Mrs. Johnson reported that three people had expressed an interest in becoming a non-voting representative on this Sub-Group and that, following assessment, nominations would be submitted to this Sub-Group for consideration.

(2)  Minute No. 3 – Beacon Council Scheme Application 2003/2004

The Early Years and Childcare Strategy Manager, School Improvement, reported that a letter had been submitted to the local Members of Parliament conveying this Sub-Group’s disappointment at not receiving Beacon Council status and drawing attention to the fact that Rotherham’s Service was very involved in supporting other local authorities in disseminating information and advising on good working practices and that the letter had been acknowledged.

(3)  Minute No. 6 – Early Years and Childcare Recruitment and Training

Discussion ensued on the significant issues regarding the above and it was suggested that an update report on the position would be beneficial for all concerned.

Resolved:-  That a report on the position regarding training and childcare for learners, improving learning needs and workforce development links with the Learning and Skills Council should be submitted to the Cabinet Members for Education, Culture and Leisure Services and Social Services.

The Early Years and Childcare Strategy Manager, School Improvement, introduced a report relating to the Children’s Centre Outreach Development Project which affected ten  Wards in the Borough.

It was reported that £95,983 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund had been awarded for an Outreach Project for 2005-2006.  The funding would support the participation of hard to reach families in areas where Children’s Centres were not yet meeting the full range  of core services.

The proposals and details of the project were outlined it being noted that the project would pilot and evaluate innovative methods of delivering integrated services within targeted areas, ensuring they were inclusive, accessible and flexible to meet the needs of all local children and their families:-

• Rotherham Play and Learn Bus will be used as a mobile base to deliver services to parents, targeting hard to reach families, prior to Children’s Centres delivering core services
• Play and Learn Bus will be scheduled for 2 sessions per week, to work in selected areas for blocks of 6 or 8 sessions over 6 or 8 continuous weeks, 2 areas per week on a rolling programme

• Services that could be offered from Play and Learn Bus include: 

§         Children’s Information Service

§         Family learning

§         Family support including drop in group sessions and ‘stay and play’ sessions

§         Job Centre Plus

§         Health services

§         Consultation on the way services are to be offered from the Children’s Centres and information about developments

• Successful services will be integrated into each Children’s Centre as it opens and shared as an example of ‘best practice’ with other areas and initiatives.
• Services will be available continuously in all areas.  At periods where the Play and Learn Bus is not scheduled to work in a particular area these services will be offered using existing community resources.  However, the Play and Learn Bus will remove barriers to accessing services and encourage participation from hard to reach families.

Early support for families and building self confidence, will give parents the opportunity  to make informed choices about the way initial services are delivered, ensuring that their own and their children’s needs are being met to give their children the best possible start in life.

This project will lay the foundations for the Children’s Centres and ensure the early involvement of families.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be received and approved.

(2)  That the Cabinet Member, Education, Culture and Leisure Services, be provided with an update on developments that take place in other Wards of the Borough.

Consideration was given to a report by the Training and Quality Assurance Co-ordinator detailing information about a new project called Men Who Dare Childcare Project.

The Project aims to support men to access training and employment opportunities within the childcare sector by challenging the traditional stereotypical belief that childcare is a career for women only.  The project will also promote the benefits to children gained through the employment of male childcare workers.  Currently there are very few male childcare  workers;  this is partly due to the stereotypical image of childcare as a female profession and the barriers which may be faced by men, such as, no peer support and negative attitudes from early years and childcare providers and parents.

Details of the duties of a full-time Project Co-ordinator/Manager were outlined.

Once the project had been signed up work would commence in January, 2005.

Resolved:-  That the report be approved and future updates welcomed.

The Early Years and Childcare Strategy Manager, School Improvement, introduced a report relating to a new project to raise awareness of Work Life Balance and Family Friendly Policies with particular reference to childcare initiatives and links with employers.  Funding had been secured through a successful joint South Yorkshire Objective 1 funding bid.

The joint project “Creating More Balance” would work with employers to enable them to explore ways of supporting their employees’ childcare needs and work-life balance.

The key aim of the Project is to:

Promote work-life balance and family-friendly policies and practices to employers across different sectors and throughout the sub-region, including promoting Children’s Information Service and developing links between employers and existing/new childcare providers.  This will support the sustainability of existing/new childcare provision and contribute to the regeneration of communities.

Each local authority area will have a Project Officer responsible for developments within their locality.  The Project Officer for Rotherham, Ms M. Hunt, is based with the Early Years and Childcare Service.   There will be a particular focus on promoting Tax Credits, childcare vouchers and the Children’s Information Service as well as encouraging links between employers and new and existing childcare providers. 

Resolved:-  That the report be received and approved.

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of this Sub-Group be held on Tuesday, 18^th January, 2005.