Supporting volunteers to get a qualification

Anyone who works in a childcare organisation knows an extra set of hands is always useful when it comes to looking after several energetic and bouncing two year olds. So Louise, Playgroup Manager of Sherwood Playgroup, advertised with vinvolved asking for volunteers to support the day-to-day running of the playgroup.

When the volunteers started in the workplace, Louise recognised the NVQ in Children’s Care, Learning & Development Level 2 would be a good opportunity for the volunteers to gain a qualification as a result of their volunteering. As their volunteering placements were more than eight hours a week they were completing enough time in the workplace to access the NVQ. 

Louise found the initial meeting with Sarah, an Employer Engagement Consultant from Care Training, very informative. It provided her with all the information required to pursue the training. If Louise had any queries or questions, she simply called Care Training to get an answer.

One thing Louise did identify was that she needed all the volunteers enrolled on the qualification in one session; this was not a problem for Care Training. An adviser visited the playgroup and completed the enrolments all on a day convenient for Louise and her team of employees and volunteers. This demonstrates the flexibility of Care Training’s programmes – they do not have to be started at a particular time of year and enrolments can be done at a time convenient to the employer.

Care Training’s ability to be flexible to the employer’s needs meant one assessor was allocated to the organisation and could visit to assess many students at one time. It also meant learners could work towards the qualification together. Louise felt Jeanie, a childcare assessor and tutor at Care Training, was “supportive, helpful and extremely approachable.”

The benefits of the training can be seen by all employees and volunteers at Sherwood Playgroup. It has given the volunteers accreditation and a qualification to represent their skills. All staff have a further understanding of the routines and regulations of the organisation and why things are done a particular way. For Louise, it has ultimately provided an improved quality of childcare and a far more enjoyable experience for the children attending the playgroup.

Of the training received and having the volunteers in the centre Louise says,
“The training has given our volunteers the opportunity to apply their experience to a qualification. They have a much more in-depth understanding of the working environment."

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