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‘We Can Work It Out’

A presentation by

Kenny Spence and Colin Chisholm

Men in Childcare

IMAGINE September 20th 2005 London

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making a worldof difference The Story so Far

Since 2000 Men in Childcare have changed the face of Scottish Childcare training. We now provides courses throughout Scotland and our approach to recruiting men into childcare training has been endorsed on a local and national level.

The Edinburgh Childcare Partnership and The Scottish Executive directly fund the Men in

Childcare project.

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making a worldof difference • Men in Childcare is the most successful

project of its type in the UK. • We focus on the benefits of having men

working in early years. Children will benefit if care settings are more representative of society.

• Men need Women, Women need Men, Children need Both.

• If childcare and early education remain completely female dominated, children may lose out on the contribution men can make and men will lose out on a fulfilling career.

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making a worldof difference Is it really necessary?

• Men in Childcare recognise the fact that more men working in childcare will help counteract the view that childcare is only ‘women’s work'.

• We don’t agree that only one gender can parent. (Although if scientists get their way we will soon have children with two mothers and some children with no biological fathers) therefore it is even more important that we strengthen the argument.

• In the same way that it is important for children to have positive female role models it is surely equally important to have positive male role models.

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Daddy or Chips? • Daddy • Chips • Both • There shouldn’t have to be a choice • Men or Women in childcare • Both • Forget Daddy or Chips

We shouldn’t have to make a choice we should give children and families as many options and as much support as is available.

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If it’s so great why don’t more men do this job ?

•It takes a leap of faith

•What would friends think in the pub?

•Would people think you’re odd?

•You feel isolated and unsupported

•Training is set up to attract females from school

•There had been no motivation to change the status quo

•It doesn't pay too well

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making a worldof difference What’s changed ?

• More single Dads• Men only courses • Media much more supportive • In some areas the salary has improved. • Government ministers taking an interest • Because there are more men there is more

peer support• More discussion more people want it to happen

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• Children could benefit because of a male perspective, men and women are different

• A more gender balanced staff group gives different ways of looking at issues

• Fathers could benefit because they have someone to relate to and may feel more at ease

What are the benefits from having men in childcare ?

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making a worldof difference Issues for Dads

• There are very few resources targeting men• Early years settings are historically feminised• Currently lack of support for single dads in the

community• Having more men working in childcare

provides support and changes the dynamics of childcare settings

• Men often have difficulty asking for extra support as regards parenting

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making a worldof difference Issues for children

• Many children now grow up in a one parent household and might not experience daily contact with a man until Secondary School

• Half of all marriages now end in divorce• Male children like to run, jump and play fight.

In a day care setting this is often not encouraged

• We celebrate differences culturally yet often not about gender whatever happened to Equal opportunities!

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making a worldof difference Staff Groups

• Regular discussion with staff teams working with pre fives suggest that more of a gender balance would facilitate different approaches

• It sometimes provides an opportunity to see different perspective from both sides of an argument.

• Men and woman are different

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making a worldof difference How has the media changed?

• A large number of Hollywood films with the man as a the main carer,

• This includes 2005 films like The Pacifier, My Baby’s Daddy

• Before that there was Daddy Day Care and Kindergarten Cop

• Positive media articles in the Observer, Womans hour

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Why the success?

• We directly aimed our advertising at men• We responded quickly• We were able to speak to them at each and

every stage of their training• We provided support• We were able to provide a complete pathway

of training• We have built good relationships with

Colleges

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making a worldof difference Men Only Courses

•Intro Course 2 hours per week accredited

•Fast track to HNC which is 1 evening per week

•H.N.C. full time or part time is a course for both men and woman as yet not enough men per class for men only HNC

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making a worldof difference Who are the men who

traditionally care for children ?•Fathers

•Partners

•Extended Family

•School Teachers

•After School Care

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making a worldof difference What support we offer

•Peer support

•Improve access to college courses for men

•Promotion of the fact that men can care for children

Encourage support within the childcare and education sector to adopt dad friendly policies

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making a worldof difference Additional Support

•Mentors

•Regular meetings with Students

•Telephone support for Students

•Meetings with College Lecturers

•All course fees met

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What we have achieved

• Since 2001 Men in Childcare have had over 700 men who have done some form of training.

• In Edinburgh there are 25 fully qualified men who are now working in childcare settings.

• 70 men are currently in training, 40 of whom will be fully qualified by June 2007.

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www.meninchildcare.comwww.meninchildcare.com