Workforce Development for early years and childcare providers - Print version

Professional development training programme

The Coventry Early Years and Childcare Professional Development Training Programme, outlines training and briefing opportunities for Coventry Ofsted registered Childminders, Private, Voluntary and Independent Nurseries,Playgroups, Out of School Clubs, Wraparound Provision and School Nurseries/Reception classes.

View our latest training schedule [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/45585/coventry-early-years-and-childcare-training].

Courses offered include a wide range of training from 12 hour Paediatric First Aid training, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Refresher training and a wide range of continuous professional development opportunities.

We are excited to inform you about changes to our Early Years Training Programme booking system.  We have taken the decision to move to the Eventbrite booking platform with immediate effect.  The Eventbrite system will enable delegates to book, pay and receive instant course confirmation via one easy to use system. 

The Eventbrite booking system can be accessed via an app, web browser or mobile.

Read how to set up an Eventbrite account and a quick user guide [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/44667/eventbrite-user-guide].

Find and book any of our early years and childcare courses/events and briefings [https://CoventryCityCouncilEarlyYears.eventbrite.com].

Remember to click ‘follow’ the Early Years Service Coventry City Council so you can easily find our courses and receive notifications as new courses and events are added.

Coventry Early Years and Childcare training schedule

Training offered by partner organisations

Coventry Speech and Language Service

Coventry Speech and Language Training offer a range of training to support children's speech, language and communication in the early years.

View the training brochure [https://www.coventrychildrensslt.co.uk/professionals/training/]

Oral Health Promotion in the Early Years

The oral health e-learning course (which has been created in collaboration with Warwickshire County Council) is aimed at all early years practitioners including those who support families with children in the 0-5 age group.  Please contact Oral.HealthTeam@geh.nhs.uk [mailto:Oral.HealthTeam@geh.nhs.uk] for further information on their training.

Coventry and Warwickshire Central Teaching School

Coventry and Warwickshire Teaching Hub [https://www.tshub.co.uk/] is a Department of Education appointed organisation. Their remit is to provide high quality professional development to teachers at all stages of their career.

Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) Training

CSCP offer a wide range of multi-agency safeguarding training courses.

Further information and how to book. [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/cscptraining]

Qualifications in early years and childcare

All early years providers working with children from birth to 5 years old must meet the requirements of the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2] Providers must ensure staff in their setting have the appropriate qualifications, including the need to have staff trained in paediatric first aid.

The Department of Education defines the qualifications that staff must hold to count in the EYFS staff-to-child ratios.

Early years managers can now use the new Check an early years qualification [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/zuFJCNxVEC29Mn1u4hZfy0c4a?domain=check-an-early-years-qualification.service.gov.uk] digital service to quickly verify whether staff qualifications meet the requirements for staff:child ratios in England.

The new service can be accessed at https://check-an-early-years-qualification.service.gov.uk [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/_gl6CO7WEc6w2PoCki4fGt_35?domain=check-an-early-years-qualification.service.gov.uk]

This free GOV.UK [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/SC7nCWn5wUAxypvfLFVfoGmWq?domain=gov.uk] tool allows managers to check a qualification’s approval status by entering key details such as:

• course start date
• level
• awarding organisation

At the end of the process, a clear outcome is provided, which can be printed for your records.

Why use the new service?

Using the new Check an early years qualification service:

• saves time during recruitment and HR processes
• supports workforce planning ahead of the September 2025 expansion of funded childcare entitlements
• reduces confusion when checking qualifications

The service is tailored specifically for early years managers. All other user groups (for example practitioners) should continue to use the Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL) [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/nk9ICQ1YNS59NDmHrtxfGnBML?domain=gov.uk] to check qualifications, and contact our supplier Ecctis [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/AqykCRgZMCAQgK8fouqf1pGVq?domain=enic.org.uk] if they are unable to find the qualification on the EYQL.

The Check an early years qualification service is for qualifications achieved in the UK. Holders of non-UK qualifications should continue to contact our supplier Ecctis [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/AqykCRgZMCAQgK8fouqf1pGVq?domain=enic.org.uk] for an assessment.

If you need help using the service you can contact DfE [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/q_CuCVm45IDXP41sWCRfENljc?domain=check-an-early-years-qualification.service.gov.uk].

Read more information on recruiting and managing early years staff. [http://www.gov.uk/childcare-parenting/recruiting-and-managing-early-years-staff]

Advertising your job vacancies for early years providers

Early Years and childcare providers – do you need to recruit staff?

Why not advertise your job opportunities for free on our Coventry Family Information Directory. [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/family.page?familychannel=0]

Coventry Ofsted registered Early years and childcare providers can submit their job vacancies by completing our online form [https://forms.office.com/e/egJHWhH6RQ]. This service is for Coventry providers only. 

We also share current job vacancies with the Coventry Job Shop, this enables all job vacancies to reach a wider audience.

Advertising your job vacancies

Information required when completing the online job vacancy form:

• job title
• qualifications required
• working hours
• salary - including salary details or hourly rate will ensure that you receive a greater response to your advertisement 
• how to apply
• contact details
• closing date

Make your vacancy sound appealing and explain why job seekers would want to work for your setting.

National Minimum Wage

By law employers must pay a minimum amount on average for the hours you work. This is called the:

• National Living Wage (NLW) if you're aged 21 or over
• National Minimum Wage (NMW) if you're aged under 21 or an apprentice

Further information on National Minimum Wage [https://www.acas.org.uk/national-minimum-wage-entitlement]

Dealing with enquiries and applications to your job adverts 

Consider how you will deal with enquiries regarding your job adverts – ensure all staff that are involved in the recruitment process are briefed and confident in responding to potential job seekers, this also includes any staff that will be responding to telephone calls or emails.

Advertising internally - the benefits  

By also advertising your job vacancy internally your recruitment practice will be seen as transparent and fair and you will also be showing recognition of staff and giving them the chance to develop.

Use of social media as a recruitment tool 

Why not utilise social media to advertise job vacancies?  LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook will allow you to reach a large number of people for little or no cost. 

Disclosure and Barring Checks

When a job vacancy is advertised, reference should be made for the need of the applicant to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check [https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check/overview].

References

The Department for Education has published a new early years employment reference template [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-employment-reference-template] to support providers to meet new EYFS safeguarding requirements on references. This form is intended to help support employers provide references for current and former employees, and includes questions about the person’s role, safeguarding history, and suitability to work with children. 

Safer recruitment

• Considerations for Interviews [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31362/considerations_for_interviews]
• Example Job Advertisement [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31363/example_job_advertisement]
• Reference Request form [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31364/reference_request_form]
• Sample Early Years Practitioner Job description [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31365/sample_early_years_practitioner_job_description]
• Sample Early Years Practitioner Personal Specification [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31366/sample_early_years_practitioner_personal_specification]
• Sample Interview Questions and Guidance [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31367/sample_interview_questions_and_guidance]
• Sample job offer letter [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31368/sample_job_offer_letter]
• Sample letter for applicant who you wish to invite for an interview [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31369/sample_letter_for_applicant_who_you_wish_to_invite_for_an_interview]
• Sample unsuccessful applicant letter [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31370/sample_unsuccessful_applicant_letter]
• Shortlisting Sample Record for Manager or Deputy Manager position [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31371/shortlisting_sample_record_for_manager_or_deputy_manager_position]
• Shortlisting Sample Record for Preschool assistant position [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31372/shortlisting_sample_record_for_preschool_assistant_position]

Looking for job vacancies in early years or childcare?

Then why not search our jobs for current job vacancies [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/family.page?familychannel=0].  Our jobs site enables job seekers to view current job vacancies and share to various social media platforms and also share via email, text and WhatsApp. 

Are you a job seeker looking for practical support? 

Then why not contact The Job Shop [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/jobshop] which is based in West Orchards Shopping Centre, Coventry City Centre, can help support job seekers with a wide range of services, including 1-1 support to help with preparing a CV and interview skills, interview preparation and signposting to job events that will put you in touch with employers regarding their job opportunities. This is a free service. 

For further information please email  jobshop@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:jobshop@coventry.gov.uk] or telephone 024 7678 5740.

Working in Early Years and Childcare  

To meet the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements, early years providers need to recruit people who comply with the Department for Education qualification list [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/early-years-qualifications-finder]of relevant qualifications. 

Have you achieved your Early Years Qualification outside the UK? 

If you did not achieve your early years qualification in the United Kingdom, you will be required to make an application to work in early years education in the United Kingdom.  Guidance of this and how to apply [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualifications-achieved-outside-england] 

Statement of Comparability  

The Statement of Comparability compares overseas qualifications to the UK education system, comparing them to UK qualifications and framework levels. This service does not provide a comment on grades, grade comparisons, or the subjects studied.  Information and how to apply [https://www.enic.org.uk/Qualifications/SOC/Default.aspx]

Disclosure and Barring Service 

To work with children and young people as an employee or as a volunteer you will need to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check for more information [https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record/get-a-basic-dbs-check-for-an-employee]

National Minimum Wage entitlement 

Employers have a responsibility by law to ensure they pay: 

• National Living Wage (NLW) if you're aged 21 or over 
• National Minimum Wage (NMW) if you're aged under 21 or an apprentice 

Current rates from 1 April 2025. 

If an employee feels they are not being paid the correct amount they can find advice and support on the ACAS website [https://www.acas.org.uk/national-minimum-wage-entitlement].

Recruitment and retention

Recruitment and retention support for Coventry childcare providers.

Childcare Works is the Department for Education's delivery partner, supporting Local Authorities, providers, childminders, and schools to deliver the expansion of the early years entitlements and wraparound childcare programme. With recruitment and retention of staff remaining one of the biggest challenges for the sector, they have created a useful resource to support childcare providers with workforce recruitment.

This includes:

• Actions childcare providers can take to support childcare workforce recruitment and retention
• A summary of the Timewise Childcare Pioneers Project with five recommendations for providers
• Practitioners’ view
• Childcare workforce background information

Read this useful resource [http://childcareworks.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/CW-Workforce-recruitment-and-retention_Advice-for-early-years-providers.pdf] 

Coventry childcare providers can submit their job opportunities free of charge - read further information on this service [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/early-years-childcare/workforce-development-early-years-childcare-providers/5].