The Liverpool City region Combined Authority (LCRCA) are working with their 6 local authorities and other partners to support the Early Years workforce: developing further opportunities to enter and progress in the sector, and promoting Early Years as a valued, skilled and rewarding career of choice. This work is reinforced by Mayor Rotheram’s Childcare Guarantee to support children across the City Region to get the best start in life. 

Access to quality Early Years Education and Childcare is a key foundation to building an inclusive and more equal economy, supporting access to work; tackling disadvantage; and delivering positive health, social and educational outcomes – both now and well into the future. 

Most importantly of all it gives children the best start in life, a start underpinned by a dedicated and skilled workforce of Early Years practitioners, delivering across all nursery settings, school based services and Childminding provision who work with each individual child to help them learn, develop and reach their potential during the most influential and important stage of their lives. 

Working together with our local authorities, providers, and government we are also taking steps to expand awareness of, access to, and availability of Early Years Education and Childcare, supporting and enabling Parents and lead Carers into jobs and careers across all areas of employment and the economy in Liverpool City Region.

• Promoting opportunities to learn more about the sector, and meet those who work in, support, and benefit from it.
• Securing £500,000 in funding and support to tackle inequity in Early Years education. The investment heralds a new partnership with the Fair Education Alliance (FEA) – a national coalition of 300 organisations. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is one of three Collaboration Partners selected by the FEA as part of its £6 million Neighbourhood to National strategy, which is supported by Bloomberg.
• Providing information about starting a career in Early Years and how to enter or return to working in Early Years Education through our award winning  LCR BeMore Portal.
• Delivering a dedicated package of Apprenticeship Levy transfer support to channel further funding into the sector and increase opportunities to join and progress in Early Years. To date £1,373,000 of apprenticeship levy funding has been used to support 184 apprenticeship starts.
• Using our Adult Skills Fund and Skills Bootcamp activity to expand dedicated Early Years training and progression opportunities.  This year we have built upon the 110 learners who have previously completed Early Year Bootcamp training with 40 being offered of employment, an apprenticeship, or if co-funded by an existing employer, confirmation of increased responsibilities or promotion. £615,000 has been invested in Skills Bootcamps for Early Years, that will enable over 270 individuals to enhance their careers and strengthen the sector. The programme supports new entrants through Accelerated Apprenticeships and empowers employers to upskill their existing workforce in areas such as Special Educational Needs (SEN) coordination and delivering high-quality maths teaching in Early Years settings 

• We have successfully piloted an Early Years Sector Based Work Academy to provide an entry level understanding and accreditation for those interested in working  which has now rolled our nationally. 
• Working with Jobcentres across Liverpool City Region to raise awareness of the support that is available to parents and lead Carers to access Childcare opportunities and highlighting the benefits it brings to families and children. Together we piloted an approach with 2,000 customers in 6 Jobcentres across Liverpool City Region to proactively secure information about future Childcare needs alongside identifying residents with ambitions, experience and aptitude to work in the sector.  
• We have developed innovative ways to support those with an interest in working in the sector to learn more and experience it through our DWP partnership work; employing five Early Years Employment Officers who are based in Job’s Centres across the City Region. To date they have supported hundreds of people to get closer to or into the sector with 204 Early Years job outcomes.
• We have worked with research partners including the Centre for Progressive Policy, Learning and Work Institute and others to help authorities, providers, and government prepare for the ongoing expansion in funding, demand and interest in the sector locally and nationally – so that LCR residents can be supported to access Early Years Education where and when they and their children need it.

The Early Years sector educates and cares for children from birth to five years old, supporting their emotional, educational, and social development. 

Our Myth-busting Childminding two-page document provides a quick guide to common questions asked by those looking to start a career in this sector.