Childcare workers across the South West are being encouraged to achieveEarly Years Professional Status through a new training programme. Theprogramme, which is supported by local authorities in the region, willbe provided by the South West Initiative for Training and administeredby Somerset County Council. Contact Mark Hemmings on 01823 349 341.
Wiltshire County Council used the New Year as an opportunity to launch arecruitment drive for foster carers, urging local families to helpvulnerable young people make a new start. The authority is running aseries of adverts in the local press appealing for people to fosterteenagers, children with disabilities and those in danger of gettingdrawn into crime. www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fostering
The secret of successful childcare recruitment fairs is steering clearof stuffy hotels in favour of gatherings in local pubs, according toSomerset County Council. Pubs are less intimidating and have a moreinformal atmosphere, says the authority, which is planning events inYeovil and Sedgemoor in March.
Ten teachers from Plymouth went to Canada to swap ideas on teaching incity schools. The visit was part of the Teachers InternationalDevelopment Initiative and funded by the Department for Education andSkills.
