Useful Links
The following links are to organisations and government departments which may be helpful in your search for a new career in childcare. Sure Start - this is the Government unit concerned with providing the best start for children under school age, bringing together childcare, early education, health and family support. http://www.surestart.gov.uk/communications/recruitment/recruitmentretention/workingwithchildren Jobcentreplus - the Government employment agency has an easy access job search facility. For childcare jobs look under the Job Group Health/Care, Job Type Childcare, Job Title Childcare (All). http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk Ofsted - the Office for Standards in Education, registers and inspects childcare and education providers. They publish a series of Standards for day care providers, and information on how to register. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk National Day Nurseries Association - is the national membership organisation for UK day nurseries. http://www.ndna.org.uk National Childminding Association - is the membership organisation for Childminders in England and Wales. They have plenty of advice and helpful publications for potential childminders. http://www.ncma.org.uk Southampton Childminders' Association - is the local group supporting and advising childminders in he city for Southampton. Tel: 023 8033 2555 Pre-School Learning Alliance - is the charity linking over 17,000 pre-school providers. Their local branches support local Development Workers who offer advice and assistance to new and existing pre-schools (playgroups). http://www.pre-school.org.uk 4Children - formerly Kids Club Network, this organisation is particularly concerned with the provision of quality out of school care for children. http://www.4children.org.uk The Training and Development Agency for Schools - is concerned with training and improving the whole school workforce. If you are interested in a career in the classroom their site has information you will need to find out about support work. http://www.tda.gov.uk Southampton Schools Recruitment - have vacancies information and advice for potential support workers in schools in the city. They can be contacted by email: teach@southampton.gov.uk Southampton Children's Information Service - offers advice in choosing a childcare career. The recruitment line is 023 8083 3122 or email your query to cis@southampton.gov.uk There are several colleges in the area offering childcare courses: Southampton City College http://www.southampton-city.ac.uk Itchen College http://www.itchen.ac.uk Tauntons College http://www.tauntons.ac.uk Eastleigh College http://www.eastleigh.ac.uk Totton College http://www.totton.ac.uk The National Extension College offers childcare courses by distance learning, which are especially useful for people already employed in childcare who cannot get to a local college. http://www.nec.ac.uk
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