Useful Contacts
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Education and Children's Services
Regal House
London Road
Twickenham
Middlesex
TW1 3QB
Telephone: 020 8891 7500
www.richmond.gov.uk
The borough can be contacted for information on:
Family Information Service
- Recruitment Information Service - 020 8831 6192
- Childcare options - 020 8831 6298
Training and Assessment Centre
- Childcare Courses - 020 8891 7215
Early Years
- Becoming a childminder/Settings up a daycare provision - 020 8831 6229
Student Finance
- Tuition Fees, Support and Student Loans - 020 8891 7500
Jobcentre Plus
(Lone Parent Advisor)
Chatsworth House
59 London Road
Twickenham
TW1 3SZ
Telephone: 020 8250 4683
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
The job centre can be contacted for current vacancies. It can also be to contact the Lone Parent Advisor. They can find courses or training for new skills, pay fares to job interviews and help with the costs of starting work.
Learn Direct
Telephone: 0800 100 900
www.learndirect.co.uk
Learn Direct is a government sponsored service. They can offer free impartial information and advice on over 700 000 courses from providers in the United Kingdom.
Connexions
Swan House
51 High Street
Kingston Upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 1LQ
Telephone: 020 8410 4105
www.connexions.gov.uk
Connexions offer a range of guidance and support for 13 to 19 year olds to help make the transition to adult life a smoother one.
City & Guilds
1 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A 9DD
Telephone: 020 7294 2800
Fax: 029 7294 2400
www.cityandguilds.co.uk
City & Guilds is the leading provider of vocational qualifications in the United Kingdom. Their qualifications assess skills that are of practical value in the work place. With over 500 qualifications to choose from there is bound to be one that's right for you - whatever your situation.
CACHE (Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education)
Telephone: 01727 847636
www.cache.org.uk
For information regarding qualifications in early years education and childcare.
National Day Nurseries Association
Telephone: 0870 774 4244
info@ndna.org.uk
www.ndna.org.uk
Contact NDNA for information regarding working in a day nursery.
DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families)
Telephone: 01325 392822
www.dcsf.gov.uk
To help you get the best out of going to university or college, there is a range of financial help available, listed on this website.
DWP (Department for Work and Pensions)
Room 112
The Adelphi
1-11 John Adam Street
London
WC2N 6HT
www.dwp.gov.uk
The Department is responsible for a range of benefits and services for people of working age, providing financial help and support.
The Pre-School Learning Alliance
Telephone: 0207 833 0991
training@pre-school.org.uk
www.pre-school.org.uk
For information regarding training and working in a pre-school.
The Professional Association of Nursery Nurses (PANN)
Head Office
2 St James' Court
Friar Gate
Derby
DE1 1BT
Telephone: 01332 372 337
www.pat.org.uk
PANN both looks after the interests of its members and works to promote the best possible practice in childcare.
The PANN is the union that cares for those who care and the only one just for child carers.
The Playwork Unit in Skills Active
Castlewood House
77-91 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1PX
Telephone: 0207 632 2000
They aim to raise the level of understanding about the importance of children's play, and improve the access to good quality play provision throughout England.
They also help playworkers to understand the nature of their work.
4Children (formerly Kids' Club Network)
City Reach
5 Greenwich View Place
London
E14 9NN
Telephone: 0207 512 2112
www.4children.org.uk
4Children is the national charity dedicated to creating opportunities and building futures for children. They provide the latest information and guidance about childcare in extended schools.
Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
Telephone: 01908 653 231
www.openuniversity.co.uk
The Open University(OU) is the United Kingdom's only university dedicated to distance learning.
For most courses there are no previous qualifications required to study, you have to be aged 18 when your course starts but there is no upper age limit.
NEC Study Programme
National Extension College
Freepost CB84
Cambridge
CB2 2BR
Telephone: 01223 400350
www.nec.ac.uk/courses
This is a charity that was set up to help people of all ages fit learning into their lives. The information it provides ranges from a student looking for a home study course, or learning materials.
SureStart
Telephone: 0870 000 2288
www.surestart.gov.uk
Sure Start is the government programme to deliver the best start in life for every child. They can give you information on early education, childcare, health and family support as well as information on recruitment and qualifications in childcare.
Care to learn scheme
Telephone: 0845 600 2809
www.dfes.gov.uk/caretolearn
This scheme is designed to help young parents under the age of 19 with funding towards their childcare costs. This includes costs for study, travel, placement and registration fees.
Lifelong Learning
www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/moneytolearn
This scheme is designed to help you if you are over the age of 19 with providing you with the knowledge of what financial help is out there.
Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED)
90 Union Street
London
SE1 0FS
Telephone: 0845 601 4771
www.ofsted.gov.uk
Ofsted is the inspectorate for children and learners in England. They are responsible for contributing to the provision of better education and care through effective inspection and regulation.
Children's Workforce Development Council (CWCD)
3rd Floor
Friends Provident House
13-14 South Parade
Leeds
LS1 5QS
www.cwdcouncil.org.uk
The Children's Workforce Development Council website provides childcare and early years information. The website has useful information about the different types of childcare and early education in the local areas. Job vacancies are also listed on this website for Early Years and Childcare.
Childcarecareers
The official website for SureStart's National Childcare Recruitment Campaign, giving you all the information you need to get working in Childcare, Early Years and Playwork.
Worktrain
The National Jobs and learning site. Search for childcare positions in the Heath and Care section.
St Mary's College
Waldegrave Road
Twickenham
TW1 4SX
Telephone: 0208 240 4000
http://www.smuc.ac.uk/
Foundation degree in Early Years.
Way to Work
6th Floor
Regal House
London Road
Twickenham
TW1 3QB
www.waytowork.org.uk
Apprentice scheme for 16 to 18 year olds in childcare.