NDNA Highlights Importance of Continued Investment in Staff Skills During Challenging Times

Feb. 4, 2011 - PRLog -- National Day Nurseries Association, Head Office, 4 February 2011 – National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) today highlighted the critical importance of sustained investment in staff skills during challenging times to ensure high-quality experiences for children remain a focus. NDNA highlighted that it recognised the financial constraints that difficult times place on nurseries and shared that its range of online courses provided an ideal solution to balancing staff training with tightened budgetary constraints.

NDNA offers a suite of online eCPD courses which are CPD UK accredited and these cover a wide range of areas ranging from nutrition to working in partnership with parents. Each course is accessed online and allows the staff member to undertake training at a time and pace to suit the setting. As the courses are online, there is no need to arrange days of cover, travel or accommodation, removing the majority of the additional expense associated with training.

What’s more, each course is priced at just £40 plus VAT for NDNA members, and £50 plus VAT for non-members. Topics covered include:

·         Completing the Self-Evaluation Form (SEF)

·         Observing to Inform Practice

·         Working in Partnership with Parents

·         Quality Management

·         Nutrition for the Under Fives

·         Enriching Play and Learning for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Stella Ziolkowski, Director of Quality and Workforce Development comments: “NDNA understands that all aspects of nursery budgets are under strain for many settings, but developing staff skills remains critical in ensuring that the nursery maintains its focus on a high-quality service whilst retaining its employees. Whilst our members continue to invest in face-to-face training, many are finding that online learning is a cost-effective solution to meet identified key skill needs. Our eCPD courses are especially popular with nurseries who have identified skills gaps amongst individual staff and want to avoid the cost of releasing them, and for those settings who are working on a tight budget. Training is critical to the successful survival of all nurseries during difficult times, and we are working to help members understand how they can grow the abilities of their employees to meet challenges and raise standards at a cost that this sustainable for the setting.”

For more information on the NDNA please visit www.ndna.org.uk

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Notes to editors:  

For more information, to arrange interviews or photographs please contact Hayley Wilson, Senior Press and Policy Officer on T: 01484 40 70 66 E: hayley.wilson@ndna.org.uk M: 07718 803 652

National Day Nurseries Association is a national charity representing children’s nurseries across the UK, giving them information, training and support, so they can provide the best possible care to young children. NDNA is the voice of the sector, an integral part of the lives of nearly one million children and their families.

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National Day Nurseries Association is a national charity representing children’s nurseries across the UK, giving them information, training and support, so they can provide the best possible care to young children.