Early Years and Childcare Local Authority Developing Practice - Supporting Employment

These case studies and resources explore different approaches to extending the reach and take up of good quality childcare with hard-to-reach groups in local Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities.

The BME Project aims to extend the reach and take-up of good quality childcare and early years' provision among Black and Minority Ethnic Families (BME). The work is focused on improving communication and engagement, supporting employment, extending the reach of the 3 and 4-year-old flexible offer, and adapting the supply of provision through offering flexible hours, workforce diversity and improved skills.

Six local authorities in different parts of the country are participating. The project aims to help participating authorities move from specific examples of good practice to a more strategic approach.

To help you select the case study most appropriate to your needs, we have provided brief details of the contents here:

Manchester- Somali Community Outreach
A project in Manchester, sponsored by the Ethnic Minority Outreach Project (funded by Job Centre Plus - JCP), which employed outreach workers to work with specific communities - in particular the Somali community - to provide information and advice about employment, training and provision offered by JCP.

Tower Hamlets Children's Centre Employment Initiative (evaluation report)
An evaluation report about a Children's Centre in Tower Hamlets that delivered an initiative to provide employment support to parents of children under 5.

Gloucestershire Recruitment (lessons learned)
This document describes how Gloucestershire County Council recruited Asian childminders and the lessons learned.