The benefits of traineeships for ECEC services

For your early childhood education service to thrive, high quality educators are a must. Finding skilled, knowledgeable educators to join your team can be a game-changer for your early learning business.

While recruitment can be challenging as you try to find people who are the right fit for your workplace, having a team of educators who are committed to your approach to early childhood education is essential.

If you have been considering how you will succeed and flourish professionally in the coming year, it could be time to familiarise yourself with traineeships. Inviting trainees undertaking workplace training within your service can be the perfect way to shape a strong team of educators to support your business.

What is a traineeship?

A traineeship combines the theory-based learning of early childhood education with the practical experience of working in the sector. While quality courses in early childhood will incorporate practical placement, a traineeship gives learners the opportunity to work and earn while they learn on the job.

Traineeships share similarities with apprenticeships — they both involve learning while working, but while apprenticeships enable a person to gain qualifications and be trained in skilled trade, traineeships support those seeking training in vocational areas. Another key difference to note is that apprenticeships generally take around four years to complete, whereas a traineeship is more likely to be from 12 months to three years in duration.

Benefits of trainees in your team

Welcoming trainees into your team of educators offers a range of benefits to your workforce as well as to your early learning service from a business perspective. Traineeships can allow you to find the right educators for your service while also saving you time in the recruitment process.

Here are some of the key benefits that early childhood providers experience through taking on trainees:

• Employees with well-developed practical skills to match your workplace: Every early childhood education workplace has their own way of doing things and their own approach to giving children the best start in life. A trainee can develop their knowledge and skills in the sector under your guidance, meaning they will be the perfect fit for your workplace.
• Save time in the recruitment and onboarding process: When staff are learning on the job, you have the opportunity to help shape your employees approach to early childhood education. In turn, you are able to gain valuable team members without time and energy going into job advertisements, interviews and retraining.
• Financial incentives for services: The Commonwealth Government offers incentives to support eligible ECEC services who take on trainees. Lump sum payments to your business and additional wage subsidies of up to 50% are on offer to support businesses who are willing to give trainees a chance to thrive in the sector.
• Improved employee confidence: Employees who are being trained on the job are learning first-hand how they can shine and provide exceptional education and care for children. This improves their confidence as educators right from the beginning of their career journey in the sector, maximising what they can offer your team.
• Qualified staff receiving high-quality training: Rather than try to gauge a potential employees suitability and skill level, a trainee becomes a staff member who is actively receiving high-quality training. Selmar provides outstanding education for those undertaking early childhood traineeships, while you are enhancing their training on the job.

A supported traineeship experience

Taking on a trainee can be a successful move forward for your service, with subsidies and support from Selmar’s trainers to develop your skilled workforce. Our workplace training mode is specifically designed to give both learners and your workforce a smooth and satisfying traineeship experience.

We know that you want to shape a valuable team of educators without disrupting children’s early learning journey. With this in mind, our dedicated trainers are on hand to deliver support to your trainees throughout their studies. As well as being on hand to speak with learners when they need guidance, Selmar trainers also head into your workplace to provide the trainee with coaching and support in real time on the job.

We do everything we can to ensure your trainees succeed. Life can often involve multiple commitments, and so we keep our approach to training flexible. Your trainees’ working hours are counted as their practical placement hours to keep them learning consistently in your working environment. Plus, our simple online learning portal means they can study and progress with their studies from wherever is most comfortable and convenient.

Our commitment to early childhood education traineeships

Fostering a high-skilled workforce of early childhood educators is something we are committed too. We believe that traineeships play an important role in shaping a strong early childhood education sector.

To further contribute to this, Selmar has recently began a new partnership with the Victorian Government’s Head Start program. This program is aimed at giving secondary school students an early pathway to access qualifications and work in the early childhood education sector.

Under the Head Start program, learners can become school-based trainees who will spend up time learning in paid early childhood education employment. They will be gaining experience and confidence in the workplace and undertaking a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care while completing their secondary school education.

Prepare your service for the new year

The new year is around the corner, and workplace training can ensure you get off to a flying start with highly-trained, committed educators on your team.

If a traineeship sounds like it could be a good option for your service, chat to us to learn more about how we can help. Our goal is to support your traineeship program so your workforce becomes the best it can be.

For more information, please contact us today.