Published: Tuesday, 28th July, 2009 2:14pm

Cabinet Secretary visits Melrose nursery

by Alexa Brown

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Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.

FIONA Hyslop, Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Education, met with staff and children at Cherrytrees Nursery in Melrose yesterday to unveil new plans to encourage careers in childcare.

Ms Hyslop chatted with local childcare trainees as it was revealed that the government are to create an additional 170 early years apprenticeships across Scotland.

It is hoped that the extra support will encouarage more young people into careers working with young children - an expanding employment sector.

Ms Hyslop told the Border Telegraph: "The government is clear that an early start is the best start for Scotland's children. By ensuring support is in place at the first opportunity, we can give every young person the chance to reach their potential.

"These apprenticeships will not only help young people into rewarding childcare careers, but will support the expansion of the sector - allowing the additional capacity to help deliver on our commitment to increasing pre-school entitlement and allowing more parents back to work.

"The young apprentices I have met here today have left me with no doubt that with their experience and enthusiasm, together with the Early Years Framework setting out action to help give all our children the best start in life, we will make real progress towards tackling inequality and delivering a smarter Scotland."

Early years apprenticeships are at SVQ levels 3 and 4 and are available for young people aged between 16 and 19 years old.

Carole Wilkinson, Chief Executive of the Scottish Social Services Council, added: "It is crucial that they (the childcare workforce) have the skills for a rewarding and demanding career in early years.

"This is a vital source of funding for training, particularly for those small to medium size organisations which will have a significant impact on the quality of care early years workers provide and improve outcomes for our children and families."