Gogeta’s Post

Nursery places as a benefit in kind: what employers need to know. 🔦 Interest in nursery schemes as an employee benefit is rising, which is no surprise given the number of working parents that struggle to afford childcare. 🔦 Employers that want to support their staff will be tempted to take advantage of schemes offering employees tax and NIC free childcare. 🔦 But Shawn Healey, an employment tax principal at BDO, sounds a note of caution as he highlights a number of qualifying conditions employers need to make sure they meet. https://lnkd.in/eKRb4uCb

Educators, families and childcare providers have welcomed the announcement of a 15% wage increase for early childhood workers, and we now know a little more about this worker retention payment. To see what it means for childcare people, check out KindiCare's new article. KindiCare #KindiCare #Childcare #EarlyLearning #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Educators #Wages #CostOfLiving

Great coverage of our #liverpool Early Years boot camp, in addition we are offering these face to face camps in #northampton , #slough and #kent as well as a 6 week remote course Free Boot Camps in Liverpool to Address Recruitment Crisis In a proactive move to tackle the serious recruitment crisis in early years childcare, the Department for Education is offering FREE boot camps in Liverpool. These 3 week courses, funded by the government, provide basic training and guarantee participants an interview for an apprenticeship upon completion. Participants like Lole Croker have praised the program for providing clarity on career paths, stating, "It has really made it very clear where I can go with this type of career." James Hartley, another participant, is breaking stereotypes, aiming to run his own nursery and promoting diversity in the field. Realise, the early years training firm, emphasizes the urgent need for new staff, with operations director Karen Derbyshire stating, "We're already in quite a serious recruitment crisis in early years." The program aims to attract individuals who haven't worked in the sector before and those returning to it. Rachel Wallace shared her positive experience, saying, "It feels very lovely. I can get to be the grown-up that maybe I didn't necessarily have when I was little." Government Initiatives and Future of Childcare This initiative aligns with the government's broader plan to extend free childcare places. By April 2024, working parents of two-year-olds can access 15 hours of free childcare, expanding to babies over nine months in September. By September 2025, 30 hours of free childcare per week will be available for parents of children under five. While the government has doubled spending to £8 billion per year to fund this expansion, concerns remain. Jonathan Broadbery from the National Association of Day Nurseries emphasizes the need for adequate funding to meet promises, stating, "It's not possible for settings to stay open, deliver the high-quality care and education they want to at the rates the government is promising to pay." Children's Minister David Johnston defends the government's efforts, stating, "This government is making the single largest investment that's ever been made in childcare." Let's share and spread the word to encourage diverse individuals to join the early years childcare sector! Together, we can address the recruitment crisis and provide quality care for our youngest learners. #EarlyYears #Childcare #Education #RecruitmentCrisis #earlyyears

Childcare in our country is something that needs an overhaul from the cost to parents, to the low salaries/hourly wage of employees in this sector. However, until then, here are some strategies that Employers can use to be a best in class employer and lower the anxieties for working parents.

In the heart of Australia’s bustling cities and serene suburbs lies an often-unnoticed yet pivotal force in early childhood development: our childcare workers. To nurture the minds and hearts of the youngest members of society, these professionals are the unsung heroes of our communities. However, beneath the surface of playful learning and joyful discoveries, a pressing issue simmers – the need for a fair and sustainable wage structure in the childcare sector.

A slightly different one from me today. However, something I am still passionate about regardless. There has been an announce that a cash payment of £1000 pound will be offered to new and returning childcare workers. As an ex Teacher (although brief), I can speak to the stress that staff go through. Which is fundamentally down to pay, workload, politics and support. If you compare our childcare and education system with other countries it doesn't take a genius to see that they are underpaid, overworked and undervalued as a whole - despite them being responsible for nurturing the minds of today and tomorrow. Whilst this short term fix of £1000 (after 3 months of employment) is a great incentive. It is just a short term fix. There has to be changes that can lead to the long term recruitment and retention of staff. Article is below and if you have time to read the short interview of the former nursery worker, you will see that £1000 just isn't enough to promote positive long term change. #education #teachers #childcare #government https://lnkd.in/ePBy6rPi

Our Director of Grocery Retail, Nikki Murran, was featured in Shelflife Magazine reflecting on the realities of juggling childcare while working in retail and looking at what the government could do to help parents and carers in this situation. In the article, Nikki highlights that with a continued staffing crisis, and Ireland reaching its lowest level of unemployment in 20 years it’s imperative that all is done to ensure those willing to work are given the opportunities to do so. But with the current cost of childcare and the lack of childcare outside office hours, a large cohort of available talent from the retail sector are being blocked. Emphasising that the government should do more to make childcare more affordable, give better support to childcare providers, incentivize more flexibility from employers, and look for more novel approaches to combat this issue. To read Nikki’s insights in greater detail, check out the full article in the link attached. It’s a great read! #retail #careers #childcare #government #supports 

Childcare workers set to get pay rise of up to 85c an hour in move to attract more people to work in the industry. 🚀 That sounds like a positive step in Ireland! Childcare workers often play a crucial role in early childhood development, yet their wages don't always reflect the importance of their work. A pay rise could not only benefit them financially but also attract more talented individuals to the profession, ultimately improving the quality of care for children. It's essential to value and support those who dedicate themselves to nurturing and educating the youngest members of our society. https://lnkd.in/ecwXUdWi The impact of childcare workers receiving a pay rise of up to 85 cents an hour could be significant, both for the workers themselves and for the childcare industry as a whole in terms of : * Improved Quality of Care * Attraction and Retention of Talent * Professional Development:  * Economic Impact Overall, a pay rise for childcare workers can have far-reaching benefits, not only for the individuals directly affected but also for the children and families they serve, the childcare industry, and society as a whole. 💡🤖 # #ChildcarePayRise #FairWagesForChildcare #InvestInChildcareWorkers #EarlyChildhoodEducation #SupportChildcareWorkers #AttractTalentToChildcare #ValuingChildcareProfessionals #QualityChildcare #EconomicEquity #ChildcareIndustryImprovement

Adventure Kids Playcare is a contracted provider for many employers that offer childcare/ back up care as a benefit. Ask your company’s HR Dept. and check your Benefits Portal! If you’re an employer, we can set up an AKP PERKS program for your employees too! “Childcare Benefits are a Smart Investment for Employers - $1 cost = $4.25 in productivity US companies that have added childcare benefits to their employment packages are seeing quick and lasting rewards in recruiting, retention, and productivity, according to a study we(BCG) conducted in fall 2023. In fact, we found that offering childcare benefits can pay off so quickly that it should be a no-brainer for employers in a competitive hiring landscape to do so.” https://lnkd.in/gkz2WD7q

Excited to share my recent piece in The Irish News, spotlighting Belfast Met's pivotal role in shaping childcare's future in NI! 🔹 Fragmented childcare approach poses challenges for both employees and employers across the whole of Northern Ireland's economy 🔹 Number of registered daycare providers for children under 12 dropped by 6% last year and is in a ongoing precarious position 🔹 Belfast Met is actively addressing challenges through initiatives like our Childcare Employers' Forum. 🔹 Advocating for regulatory adjustments to streamline recruitment without compromising quality. 🔹 Championing pathways for women returners and school leavers into the childcare sector. 🔹 Urging government to consider subsidising childcare costs and revisiting regulations. 🔹 Collective effort needed to create a Childcare Strategy for a brighter future. Belfast Met's next Childcare Employers' Forum meeting will take place at 10am on 30th April in Belfast Met's E3 campus - we urge all leaders in Northern Ireland's economy to join the conversation. Let's work together to chart a new journey for childcare that ensures economic prosperity and social inclusion for all. #BelfastMet #ChildcareEducation #NetworkingSuccess #CollaborationJourney #Apprenticeships #Childcare #NorthernIreland 🚀👶 https://lnkd.in/eW-bxn4U