The early years sector in the UK is facing a severe recruitment and retention crisis, with many settings struggling to find and keep qualified staff. This is a significant issue, as it impacts the quality of care for children and the overall sustainability of the sector. Local Authorities have a childcare sufficiency duty and need a workforce for their family hubs/children’s centres.
Over the years there have been examples of areas ‘growing their own’ workforce. This case study looks at how using the Peep Progression Pathway has supported parents to not only enhance their parenting skills but to develop skills and competencies which contribute to their employability and long-term career goals.
Background
Peeple is a charity, whose main purpose is to support parents/carers, babies and children to learn together and improve children's outcomes, by valuing and building on what families already do.
The Peep Learning Together Programme (LTP), Peep Antenatal Programme and Peep TALK Programme are used by early years and family support professionals to help parents create the best start for their children by listening, talking, playing, singing and sharing books and stories together.
The Peep Progression Pathway offers nationally recognised units to cover three qualification levels for parents and carers as learners. At each of these levels, learners can follow a unit covering:
- any of the five Peep learning strands - Personal, social and emotional development, Communication and language, Early literacy, Early maths, and Health and physical development, and/or
- any of the four developmental stages - Babies, Toddlers, Pre-schoolers or Early Childhood - of the Learning Together Programme.
Parents create and submit a portfolio of work which enables them to attain an Entry Level 3, Level 1 or Level 2 SCQF Certificate in ‘supporting early learning at home’.
An example from Derby
Siwaporn came to England with her husband, who she met whilst he was teaching in Thailand, in 2015. They had their daughter in 2020 and Siwaporn started to attend the stay and play sessions at her local Children’s Centre. The Centres were so inviting and encouraging that she felt welcomed and a part of the community. As English was not her home language it helped her to make new friends and provided her with emotional support.
She started to attend Peep groups and quickly began her Peep journey by enrolling on the Health and Physical Development unit of the Peep Progression Pathway with her baby, whilst on maternity leave.
She loved both the challenge and the sense of achievement and was keen to continue her journey, attending a Communication and Language Pathway next.
Siwaporn became emotional when she shared that the support she had been given was incredible and that at home in Thailand none of the sessions that parents can attend are free. She recognised that she wanted to share her journey and support others so became a volunteer within the Peep groups. She used her new qualifications, from the Peep Progression Pathway to support her application for a job with Derby City Council and they were delighted to have her.
She started in her new role as a Family Hubs Ambassador in January 2024 and hasn’t looked back. She now delivers her own Peep sessions, is an advocate for Peep wherever she goes, sharing her experiences and spreading the word, signposting all the available groups and opportunities for other new mums and families, so that they can also access the amazing support network that is available for parents across Derby. She loves working in such a diverse community and knows how important it is to reach out to families that may feel isolated or need support.
She explained ‘I always say to the other mums I got my job because of Peep. I did the Pathway and it didn’t feel like being at college, it just felt like being with my friends and other young mums and I was able to do it with my daughter too.’
Sue’s Peep Journey to employment
Sue began her Peep Journey 25 years ago with the birth of her first daughter. ‘Because the sessions were free and we didn’t have much money I was drawn in and once I started going I realised the importance of how everything you do makes a difference to your baby and it makes you want to do the best for your child.’
She continued to attend the baby sessions regularly with her first child and completed portfolios on the Peep Progression Pathway around the activities and experiences they shared. ‘At the time I didn’t really understand the point system, I just wanted to create something I could keep and share.’ Having just completed the new Peep Progression Pathway training I have looked out all of the portfolios I completed (8 in all) with my children and they are great as a reminder of what we did together. It’s so lovely to have special photos and memories of times that I’d forgotten, like her dinner lady sticker when she started school, her drawing of Humpty Dumpty, (her favourite rhyme at the time) and her first swimming certificate. It’s lovely to look back but also to share them with them as adults.’
After attending groups with her children and when the older ones had started school she was invited to support groups and offered a job as a Peep Assistant. ‘I was supporting up to 3 groups a day when I started, mostly baby groups and then I completed my Peep training around 2001 and have never looked back! Peep is such a huge part of my life. I’ve been involved in Peep sessions in schools, health centres and community spaces for families and for Foster Carers, we even ran a swimming Peep which was fun. During the pandemic we moved to online and then outdoor sessions which was challenging at times.’
Sue explained ‘Peep has opened doors and avenues that I would never have explored. I remember helping out in schools which helped me into the assistant role and as I worked my way up I now support others to develop and train. It’s vital that the leaders and assistants work together to build trust not just with each other but with the families, developing strong links and relationships. There are so many more people with anxiety and Mental Health needs since the pandemic, or perhaps people just feel more confident to share and it’s important that we recognise this as an important role too. It’s so rewarding not just getting thanks from people but seeing their journey and how much they have learnt while they’ve been with me.
Sue has now trained as a Peep Progression Pathway Assessor and will be running her own Peep Progression Pathways groups soon, offering accredited courses to parents through the Peep sessions. ‘I’m excited to offer the parents the same opportunities as I was given and can’t wait to start.’
Kalina’s Journey to new qualifications
Kalina moved to Scotland from Poland a few years ago, although she could speak a little English, she was very nervous and lacked confidence when interacting with others. Kalina first joined her son at nursery during shared start times, she enjoyed spending time in the nursery environment and soon began chatting to staff and other parents, she was always keen to join in during family times.
Peep together programme was offered to our parents in the Autumn term, Kalina and Philip came together each week. Pathway was explained to the parents/carers on our first Peep together session, Kalina signed up for this and her journey began.
Each week we could see Kalina’s confidence grow, she was eager to learn and enthusiastic to grow her knowledge and understanding of how children develop and learn. She found the Pathway programme challenging, but having others to chat to, bounce around ideas helped to build her confidence and develop her personal skills. She was so happy and proud of herself when she completed her portfolio. She found it worthwhile and beneficial to her as a parents and to help others.
After several weeks, Kalina approached me to ask about what she could do next. She was thinking about her future and returning to work. She wanted to continue her journey and learn more about working with, and supporting children to do and be their best. We looked at college courses together and I accompanied her to an information session at Fife College. She applied and has been accepted on the Educational Support Assistant course, which she begins in September. Kalina said she wouldn’t have done this without the helping hand that the Peep programme has given her.
We are proud to have played a little part in Kalina’s journey.
Further information
If you would like to learn more about the Peep programme and how the Peep Progression Pathway could support recruitment to the sector in your area please contact Debbie Holmes [email protected]
employability case studies | www.peeple.org.uk
Liz Hodgman (LGA) in partnership with Peeple