All staff who work within Enfield Council have access to appropriate training and development opportunities. As Investors in People, the Council recognises the importance of developing its staff to fully achieve in their job role.
The London Borough of Enfield's Play Development Team believes in working with staff to provide identified opportunities to enhance confidence and give staff new ideas, skills and knowledge for working in childcare or play settings.
Inductions are held either as a group or individually on site, in order to ease staff into their roles and responsibilities and give them a general outline of their duties. It is also an opportunity for staff to meet other members of the Play Development Team.
The Play Development Team offers members of staff the opportunity to attend both short training courses and vocational courses, which are held both during the day and evening. Some courses are co-ordinated by the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) and are offered FREE of charge.
Not all the courses involve written work; there are practical ones too!
Short Courses (length of courses vary from 2 hours - 1 day)
These courses include:
Arts and crafts
Sports
Games and activities
First Aid
Child Protection
Managing Behaviour Courses
Special Needs/ Sign Language
Courses are run by the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) who provide certificates to candidates on completion of each course, and by the Play Development Team.
Vocational courses (i.e.courses that lead to a qualification)
The Play Development Team acknowledges the benefits to both staff and children, of staff undertaking formal qualifications while working in a play setting. National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and other qualifications in Playwork are available at all appropriate levels and the practical assessments are undertaken in the work setting. It is a national requirement for all staff to achieve (or be working towards) at least a level 2 qualification in playwork by the year 2004.
Benefits of Training to Playworkers:
There are numerous benefits to participating in training courses. Staff can increase their knowledge and skills within the chosen field of play and childcare, assisting them in their career development. There are also other employment opportunities available within this field.
Benefits of Training to Children and Their Families:
Well-trained and qualified staff help to ensure good quality play services for children. Trained staff will be able to offer children exciting developmental play opportunities, which in turn will reassure parents and carers about their child's happiness and safety while using the service.
Benefits to the Services?
Trained staff benefit the Play Development Team immensely. Trained and qualified staff are beneficial to recruitment and retention and to the all round delivery of play services. Well-trained staff ensures that the Play Development Team is meeting the requirements of the OFSTED Registration and Inspection team. They also assist in providing a high quality service by contributing positively to the team and ensuring a smoothly run service.
Working and Training With the Play Development Team
Playworkers employed by the Play Development Team come from a variety of employment and educational backgrounds. They vary from lunch time supervisors, class room assistants and teachers who are looking to further their work with children, to students undertaking higher educational studies who would like to gain some valuable experience working with children. There are also Playworkers who have taken the position as their first step in the childcare or playwork profession.
Whatever the level of employment or education, working and training with the Play Development Team can assist in furthering personal development and can open the doors to many areas of playwork and childcare.
If you would like to enquire about current job vacancies within the Enfield Council Play Development Team, please call 020 8350 1126 (ansaphone) or 020 8350 6749 or 020 8364 3081 to speak to a Play Officer.
