Longhill School, Brighton

One of the schools we currently work with is Longhill School in Brighton. We currently deliver two programmes - the ‘CACHE Foundation Award in Caring for Children’ to year 10s and the ‘CACHE Certificate in Childcare and Education Level 2’ to year 11s.

The learners on the course spend one day a week with a YMCA Training adviser, and one day in placement. Their placements are arranged through YMCA Training, and usually take place within a nursery or reception class in a school.

Ros Ashton, Longhill School, said: " This is the second year students from Longhill School have been studying the CACHE childcare course, delivered by YMCA Training. The students, who are in their second year of the course, have gained in numerous ways, each individual getting different benefits from the course. They spend one day in the classroom with the trainer and one day in a nursery.

For some students it has engaged them in learning a lot more, for others it has increased their confidence. It has allowed the young people the opportunity to be more independent and given them a superb insight into the world within a nursery. They have also been able to see how the theory learnt is relevant and used within the nursery setting. The students are enthusiastic about the course and their attendance is very good. The new group of Year 10s have started their first half term very well. They have settled into their placements and started working on their first assessment. For a lot of the girls, the days on the course are their favourite part of the week and we feel this course has also helped some of the students with their school work.

One very positive aspect has been the partnership we have formed between YMCA Training and the school, and I feel we work together very well to gain the best for the young people."

Charlotte Humphries, YMCA Training childcare training adviser, said: "I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to teach key stage 4 pupils childcare, as I really wanted to teach, and it’s great to be doing it alongside delivering NVQs. I do find it challenging and rewarding, and feel very privileged that I am responsible for lesson planning and liaising with school and parents on any issues that come up."

Star Pupil gets Merit

Tony is now in his second year of training with our Great Yarmouth Centre. He is a year 11 pupil from a local high school and is studying for a Level 2 certificate in Early Years Practice. Tony's communication skills were proving a barrier to his learning at school, but he has made excellent progress during this vocational course. He recently undertook his assessment for unit 1 of the course, along with 43 students from four local high schools, and was one of 14 students to pass with merit. 

Tony said "I have really liked the course and I learnt a lot of new things while enjoying the activities we covered."

Photograph: Tony studies for his certificate in Early Years Practice

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