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| Drive to employ more child carers | Drive to employ more child carers |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A drive to recruit thousands more child carers and classroom assistants in Wales is set to begin. | |
| Children's minister Jane Hutt said current staff would also be helped to improve skills and qualifications. | Children's minister Jane Hutt said current staff would also be helped to improve skills and qualifications. |
| Ms Hutt said she wanted families to be confident the services were helping give their children "the best possible start in life". | Ms Hutt said she wanted families to be confident the services were helping give their children "the best possible start in life". |
| Television, radio and press advertisements will be supported by the website playlearngrowwales.gov.uk. | |
| The minister, also responsible for education, lifelong learning and skills, was due to launch the recruitment campaign on Wednesday at the Rhydyfelin Integrated Children's Centre in Pontypridd. | The minister, also responsible for education, lifelong learning and skills, was due to launch the recruitment campaign on Wednesday at the Rhydyfelin Integrated Children's Centre in Pontypridd. |
| She was expected to say that the demand for staff to work with children was rising above the 26,000 people already working in the sector. | She was expected to say that the demand for staff to work with children was rising above the 26,000 people already working in the sector. |
| The early years of a child's life are the most important in shaping their future development Jane Hutt | The early years of a child's life are the most important in shaping their future development Jane Hutt |
| She said the rise was "due partly to groundbreaking Welsh Assembly Government initiatives," including the Flying Start programme which offers free childcare, parenting programmes and other services to poorer families. | She said the rise was "due partly to groundbreaking Welsh Assembly Government initiatives," including the Flying Start programme which offers free childcare, parenting programmes and other services to poorer families. |
| The Welsh Assembly Government estimates its new Foundation Phase will create around 2,300 new vacancies for classroom assistants from September next year. | The Welsh Assembly Government estimates its new Foundation Phase will create around 2,300 new vacancies for classroom assistants from September next year. |
| The Foundation Phase, for three to seven year olds, includes more use of play and activities to help children develop. | The Foundation Phase, for three to seven year olds, includes more use of play and activities to help children develop. |
| In a statement Ms Hutt said: "The early years of a child's life are the most important in shaping their future development, so we are making a significant investment in staff and training to ensure that we have the right people. | In a statement Ms Hutt said: "The early years of a child's life are the most important in shaping their future development, so we are making a significant investment in staff and training to ensure that we have the right people. |
| "We recognise that everyone who is involved in caring for children plays an important role - classroom assistants, childminders, play workers, and people working in playgroups, out-of-school clubs and nurseries. | "We recognise that everyone who is involved in caring for children plays an important role - classroom assistants, childminders, play workers, and people working in playgroups, out-of-school clubs and nurseries. |
| "That is why we are encouraging people already working in this sector to consolidate their experience and skills by further training and gaining formal qualifications." | "That is why we are encouraging people already working in this sector to consolidate their experience and skills by further training and gaining formal qualifications." |