Thursday 10th July

Neath Guardian Article 9th July 2008

I am pleased to see that Neath Port Talbot College are providing nursery accommodation at Coleg Pontardawe, on the Afan and Neath Campuses.

These are called Lilliput Day Nurseries and they offer 127 full-time, and part-time places. They care for 200 children.

Each nursery is staffed by a leader, deputies and qualified nursery nurses, many of them are ex-learners from the College. This means good quality childcare for learners, staff and the local community is provided. College staff are given peace of mind knowing that their children are well looked after while they pursue their career and daily work.

I know that one of the main barriers to learning for mothers or fathers with young children is a lack of trusted, flexible childcare. Lilliput Day Nurseries services are reliable, flexible and of good quality. This is reflected in recent Care Standards & Social Services Inspectorate for Wales Inspection Reports.

Many nursery places are funded by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Learner Support Fund so there is often no cost to the learner and the learner also has peace of mind that their child is well looked after and happy while they are studying, going out on work placements or taking examinations.

The nurseries also train students by providing work experience and short-term practical placements as a vital part of their learning experience. In addition, long-term modern apprenticeships are provided for learners, allowing them to qualify to NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Childcare. Most are employed on qualifying as Nursery Nurses. Some have gone on to take up supervisory positions with local childcare providers or taken childcare positions abroad in America and Australia.

In today’s competitive job market there has never been a greater need for a work force which is better qualified and skilled and this skilled workforce will enable us to compete as a nation internationally. This nursery helps to achieve this by allowing parents to improve their skills base, it is also important in that mothers or fathers may compete on an equal footing and abolish social divisiveness which is line with the aspirations of the Welsh Assembly Government. I am pleased that these nurseries which are of such value to the community have been provided by a partnership of Neath Port Talbot College, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Labour led Neath Port Talbot Council.