Williams now runs a successful day nursery in north Wales and recentlystarted a new business - the Mobile Creche Company - providing childcarefacilities for parents and companies across the UK. She is also apassionate advocate of integrating disabled and disadvantaged childreninto mainstream childcare.
"My background wasn't advantaged; I left school at 15 with nothing," shereveals. "I was told I would never amount to anything. Too many childrenare told they can't do things."
After five years working as an au pair in Greece, Williams returned tothe UK and set about gaining her childcare qualifications. She worked asa childcare assessor and in 1998 was asked to run an after-school club.This experience encouraged her to set up her own business.
After a struggle for funding and premises, Happyhours Childcare Servicesopened in Colwyn Bay in 2000, initially providing after-school andbreakfast clubs before expanding to become a day nursery for childrenaged from three months.
"My dream was to have a fully integrated service for able-bodied,disabled and disadvantaged children," Williams explains. "I was toldthat it wouldn't work, but I knew it would.
I believe everyone should have an equal chance to progress.
"My proudest moment is when I walk into the centre and see anable-bodied child pushing a disabled child in a wheelchair. It'sfantastic. They learn from each other. It teaches able-bodied childrento care for and not be frightened of disabled children."
Williams argues that the childcare sector still needs to overcome anumber of barriers with regards to children with special needs. "Thereare preconceived ideas, fears and a lack of confidence about providingsupport for disabled children," she says. "I know it can be difficult;you may have to provide one-to-one support and you have to get roundfunding issues. But even if they can't be in mainstream schools they canbe in childcare with able-bodied children."
It is not only the children that benefit, she argues, their parents arealso desperate for support. "The services are equally important forparents," she says. "How can they work if their child is at home?Everyone needs a break. But if you have a child with disabilities theseproblems are magnified 100-fold. I've met parents at the end of theirtether - even suicidal. It can be a huge stress on the whole family.They have to fight for every single thing."
Williams acknowledges that funding can be a problem for childcareproviders, but believes her experiences show what can be done; profitsfrom the Mobile Creche Centre, which is often used by businesses and forconferences, help to fund Happyhours.
"More funding should come from the Government but (if that doesn'thappen) you have to be creative," she says. "Everyone working inchildcare has an obligation to make each centre accessible. You can havea viable business and totally integrated services."
Childcare as a profession must also be more highly valued, she argues:"The whole image of it needs to change. It is one of the most importantjobs in the world."
One way to do this is to boost the qualifications of childcareworkers.
Williams has recently completed a BSc in early childhood studies at theUniversity of Glamorgan and is helping members of her staff to do thesame. But, as qualifications improve, salary demands will also rise, asWilliams acknowledges.
"It will be hard to keep staff when they become more qualified," shesays. "I think there needs to be some kind of Government subsidy, sothat employers who encourage their staff to get qualifications can alsoget funds to pay for the wage increases."
BACKGROUND - Career history
- In 1987, Julie Williams travelled to Greece to work as an au pair.Five years later she returned to the UK and studied for her childcarequalifications, before later becoming a childcare assessor
- In 1998, she helped to set up an after-school club but left two yearslater to open her own centre, Happyhours Childcare Services in ColwynBay, north Wales, providing after-school and breakfast clubs
- In 2003, Happyhours also became a day nursery and last year, Williamsformed the Mobile Creche Company, which provides childcare across theUK.
