Flying Start

“Flying Start believes that by investing in high quality training for our staff that we are ensuring a first class workforce for the future and fulfilling our company vision of ‘life-long learning’”.

Flying Start Nurseries operate 8 children’s day nurseries in Cornwall, caring for nearly 700 children in the county and employing 98 staff. As an organisation, they are committed to the ongoing development of their staff.

In partnership with Cornwall College Business, Flying Start developed a training division called TLC (Technology and Learning in Childcare) in January 2007. It was for this ambitious undertaking and its remarkable results that Flying Start Nurseries were awarded the Outstanding Commitment to Training (SME) Award at Cornwall College Business’ Excellence in Business Training Awards.

TLC provides innovative, relevant and high quality NVQ training. All participants are provided with access to a range of technology to evidence their progress by a variety of means. TLC has its own team of in-house, occupationally competent assessors and verifiers who are qualified and experienced in all aspects of both Early Years Practice and also NVQ delivery, assessment and verification. The assessors work alongside the trainees during their day-to-day practice.

The benefits of the training programme are numerous. It has created a separate route for advancement as staff can become trainers, buddies, assessors and verifiers. Over 90% of appointments to senior positions are made by internal promotion. This in turn has reduced recruitment costs by over 50% in the last 3 years. The percentage of staff working toward higher level qualifications has risen 9% since the programme’s inception. The attrition rate has dropped from 34% per annum to 22%. This saves £12,000 per annum on recruitment costs. On top of all of these benefits to staff and the organisation, the training has ultimately improved the quality of service to both the children and their parents.

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