CONFERENCE 19 th June 2015 Jon Stonehouse

CONFERENCE 19 th June 2015

Jon Stonehouse Director of Children's Services, Education and Skills City of York Council

David Wright Owner of Paint Pots Nurseries Southampton

From Intention To Action David Wright Men into Childcare conference, York Friday 19 th June 2015

Newborn 1 month 6 months 2 years

Birth 2 Years 6 Years

Arguably, the Nature vs Nurture debate is over Child development theory is no longer a question of hypothesis, we know how children’s brains develop and what causes growth The role of the adult carer / teacher is key – “Repeated positive experiences build the strong connections that will remain for life” We need a professional, committed and knowledgeable workforce to support children whilst they build 85% of their brains. Childcare should not be a pejorative term; not a default for those who failed their beauty school exams.

…… so where do the men come in? For children up to the age of 11 – 12 in the UK, care and education experiences are predominantly provided by females. 2% of the UK early years workforce and 14% of primary sector staff are male 25% of UK primary schools have no men working in them 32% of men working in primary and nursery schools are in senior leadership roles – not in day to day contact with children Arguably the most important job – as a nation we need to ensure the best people working with our youngest children.

Finding Our Purpose

What is the Agenda? • Challenge attitudes in society – gender roles, suspicion • Campaign / positively influence general opinions on the benefits of men working in Early Years. • Lobby government • Campaign for improved pay, status (nb not a gender issue) • Identify and support existing male workers through local networks • Promote the benefits of a career in Early Years to men / boys • Promote early years as a viable career path for men.

But start from where we are…… ‘Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you. ’ Mother Teresa

What’s Happening? International World Forum Foundation Europe Men in Early Childhood Education Men in Childcare network coordinated by Mi. C Scotland annual conference (Poland 2014) @meninchildcareirl National Conference, January 2016, Southampton National Co-ordination Charter, learn from each other National Promotion Media, PSLA, NDNA, PACEY Government Parliamentary Inquiry into Parenting & Social Mobility Local Networks Promotion Opportunities Southampton, Bristol, York, Lancs, London, Camden, Surrey, Kent, Local media, schools, Good News Stories Seek out men! invite them in – jobs, volunteering

Draft UK National Men in Early Years Charter In this setting – • Male carers, workers and volunteers are welcome. • We recognise that men and women have complementary roles in caring for and developing children and that they benefit from interactions with both men and women. • It is normal for boys and girls of all ages to be cared for by men and women. • We are actively working towards a workforce comprising a balance of men and women. • We promote and support childcare as a career for both genders. • We encourage and welcome job applications from men. Organisation: Signed: Date:

Top Tips • Start your own local Men in Early Years support group • Consider wording job adverts to say that you welcome applications from men and women • Review how welcoming your setting is to men • Ask men what would make them feel welcomed and comfortable in your setting • Consider whether men would be comfortable with the discussions in your staff room • Tell trainers and colleges that you are looking for male apprentices • Write an article for your local paper promoting careers in early years for men and women • Encourage men to volunteer with you • Plan specific activities for men to do in your setting • Buy your local careers advisor a coffee & educate them on early years as a profession & viable career for men • Use success stories to promote careers in early years for men – profiles, podcasts, videos, images Visit http: //www. kathybrodie. com/men-in-childcare-podcast/

Boys and Girls need Men and Women

Charlie Rice Head of Health and Corporate Development The Fatherhood Institute

Young Men into Childcare Tower Hamlets

2 year pilot project • 12 Young men (16 -24) trained at Level 1 – CACHE Foundation Award in Caring for Children (NQF) • 6 progressing to Level 2 – CACHE Certificate in an Introduction to Early Years Education and Care (QCF) • 4 Young men employed in childcare • 20 Men volunteering in childcare in Tower Hamlets • Formation of Men in Childcare Forum in Tower Hamlets • In depth evaluation

The Challenges • • • Recruitment Retention Inclusive training Work placements Safeguarding Employment Volunteers MIC forum Evaluation – collecting data – quantitative and qualitative

Partners • • • City Gateway Tower Hamlets Council Family Support services Connexions – IAG Schools Childcare Providers - Montessori - LEYF Young Mayor Youth Arts programme Youth Service

Marketing and Media

Key Messages “You are a Hero Every Day” • Working in childcare provides very high levels of job satisfaction • Working with children is challenging, rewarding and worthwhile, possibly the most important job in the world • Working with children is fun and has a life-time impact • Excellent training pathways; Level 1 to Level 5 and beyond • Great career progression opportunities from early years and beyond: • Good business opportunities in an ever growing childcare market

Media • • Evening Standard Nursery World Children and Young People Now Day Nurseries. co newsletter Web-site Facebook Twitter Linked in

MIC Forum Creating an Inclusive Workforce • • Partnership with Tower Hamlets Council Men and Women Managers and Practitioners Trainers and providers Supporting the project Sharing expertise Learning from each other Mutual support

Volunteers – Work in Progress !!

Inclusive Training - Safeguarding • How should these be different if at all? • Children are at the centre of all we do

Thank you

Update and the campaign for York

What progress have we made?

• As a MITC group we have been meeting about once every 2 -3 months. • This has been attended by a core group of about 5 people from nurseries, Children’s Centre’s and after school clubs. • These meetings have been an excellent use of time with ideas on how to drive the initiative forward and peer support. • The logo you see now was also decided by the group after some fantastic designs were brought to us by Michael from the Communications Team in the Council. • Since the last conference the steering group has continued to meet on a regular basis

• However for all the positive outcomes it is becoming very difficult for people to keep attending with their own work commitments. • Every setting with a male worker has been contacted and reminded each time and we still only get a few. • Do we need to change how and when we meet? You tell us.

An Exciting Future. • The Head at Clifton Green has suggested and offered the following: 1. Staff who could get into secondary school and talk to boys as part of the careers process 2. Volunteering placements for men 3. Work experience placements for Y 10/11 boys 4. Representation on the Steering Group

Our Future Plan? 1. Raising the profile of childcare as a serious and legitimate career amongst young men still at secondary school. 2. Offering opportunities for men, who may be interested in childcare as a change of career, to volunteer in a setting to get both a flavour for it and experience of it - while signposting them to appropriate training opportunities. 3. Offering opportunities for men to simply volunteer in childcare settings, especially those with skills that could be used to raise the engagement and aspirations of boys (and this could possibly include mentoring) 4. Supporting those men already working in childcare through developing network opportunities

• Please find on your table some more case studies that we would encourage you to read.

Case Study Stewart Macdonald My name is Stewart I am 31 years old. I always had an interest in going into Childcare but due to not going on to further education and trying to pursue a career in football I never really tried. The football never took off and I got stuck in the world of retail going from job to job. I was in retail from the age of 16 and managed to work up to manager at the age of 18 at JJB Sports and moved on from there to be store manager of Halfords in Harrogate. My wife then got depression and it completely changed the way things were. I had to become a stay at home dad for my children and to look after my wife. Over the last few years my wife has got a lot better and has managed to go back to work herself. I was put off trying to pursue a career in childcare because there felt like there was no clear path to follow to encourage me to do so, also every course I had looked at required high fees and lots of time of which I had neither. Networking opportunities are few and far between and information is very limited or not in the right areas to find. There is an expectancy that you will attend college or university but that is not always wanted. I was asked to attend the Men into Childcare conference last year and this gave me the opportunity to reignite my interest in working in childcare. I was able to talk to the right people in the right place and thanks to meeting Tracy from York Learning during the conference I am now doing a ‘Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools’. Once I pass the course I am hoping to get a job at my chosen school in September when my youngest child starts school. That chosen school is Clifton Green and the Head has been fantastic in allowing me to do placements within his school and also looking to offer me the opportunity of work upon completion of my course. I have never felt judged by being a male in my time at the school and I think that is due to ithe healthy attitude towards male staff that the school has. They currently have 7 male staff so it is never looked at as an issue.

The Early Years Workforce in York Baseline Estimate for March 2014 Total Men identified in York Early Years Workforce: Sector of Workforce Total Number of Men in Workforce Total Number of Male Early Years Practitioners Day Nurseries 15 9 Child Minders 8 6 Children’s Centres 4 2 Pre - Schools 5 2 Total 32 19

The Early Years Workforce in York Baseline Estimate for March 2014 Total Early Years Workforce in York – Estimated: Sector of Workforce Estimated total workforce Day Nurseries/Pre Schools 1093 Child Minders 205 Children’s Centres 52 Total 1350

Total Early Years Workforce - Estimate = 1350 Male Early Year Practitioners identified in Workforce = 19 Estimated percentage of workforce = 1. 5 Total Male identified Workforce = 32 Estimated percentage of workforce = 2. 4%

Designing and Delivering the York Men into Childcare Campaign

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