Staffing and Recruitment
National Work Life Week
Are you struggling with your recruitment like many early years settings and other businesses? Would you love to know how to recruit more and better-trained employees into your business? Did you know… 8 in 10 parents would apply for a job with...
Become An Expert In Early Years Management & Leadership
How do the best managers in Early Years Management get to be the best managers? What is it that they do that makes them the best? Were they born that way, or did they learn through trial and error? And how can we emulate this if we have only...
Celebrate National Careers Week (NCW)
It’s that time of year when young people across the country start turning their attention to revision, exams and what they will do when they leave school, either after completing their GCSEs or higher exams such as A Levels and T Levels....
National Apprenticeship Week
This month sees the return of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), and this year will be the 15th week-long celebration of everything to do with apprenticeships.
Celebrate ‘all things apprenticeships’ during National Apprenticeship Week
The annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW2021) is upon us, 8-14th February, and with it, comes a great opportunity to celebrate ‘all things apprenticeships’. Apprenticeships allow individuals to earn while they learn and can lead to new and...
National Apprenticeship Week 2020
We love to celebrate our apprentices and their achievements here at Parenta. There’s no better time than National Apprenticeship Week to share with our readers what it means to our learners to complete a childcare course with Parenta Training....
National Apprenticeship Week is here!
This week-long celebration, organised every year by the National Apprenticeship Service, aims to unite everyone who is passionate about apprenticeships, to encourage more young people to choose this path as a first step (and often fast-track) to...
What to expect when working in childcare
Have you ever considered working in childcare but don’t know what to expect? Maybe you’re a parent returning to work, or a school leaver seeking their first apprentice placement, or maybe you just want a change of scene, and childcare appeals....
The importance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for your staff
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is key for not only upskilling your existing workforce, but it also reduces recruitment costs, attracts top talent and helps to prevent skills shortages within your setting. If you can ensure that your...
Is now the right time to hire an apprentice?
During May and June, over 5 million students in England will be taking their GCSE exams. Once they receive their results this summer, they’ll be considering what next steps to take for their careers. For some, this will mean starting an...
Get on board with National Apprenticeship Week!
National Apprenticeship Week is now in its eleventh year and will take place from 5th-9th March 2018. During this very special week, employers and apprentices from all over England will come together to promote apprenticeships as a great way to...
Could your setting benefit from hiring a business apprentice?
With National Apprenticeship Week set to take place on the 5th March, we thought now would be the perfect time to shine the spotlight on apprenticeships. Find out more about how business apprentices can bring great benefits to your setting,...
How to lay the groundwork for a great training session
Ofsted expects childcare practitioners to keep their knowledge up to date and strive to continually improve their practice. However, finding the time and money for staff training on a tight budget and an even tighter schedule means that this can...
Top tips to help you manage staff absences over winter
With the NHS braced to face the worst flu season in history, now seems to be an appropriate time to start planning for the inevitable bout of staff sickness which is likely to affect UK businesses. In the event of that unexpected call from a...
20% off-the-job training, explained
The new apprenticeship funding rules, which were published in March 2017, set out guidance for all employers who plan to participate in a new apprenticeship programme this year. From 1st May 2017, the funding rules state that there is a...
10 top recruitment tips to help you find your ideal apprentice
Looking to fill a skills gap in your team? Have you ever considered taking on an apprentice? We spoke to our recruitment team here at Parenta to find out what top tips they'd recommend for employers looking to hire a new apprentice. Provide your...
How can you help your new apprentice settle in quickly?
In the year 2015/16, the Government recorded 131,000 apprenticeship starts in England for Health, Public Services and Care. This number has risen steadily every year from 2009/2010, when there were 44,000 apprenticeship starts. Apprentices can...
Why summer is the perfect time to take on an apprentice
The number of students applying to university has fallen, according to official figures. UCAS data has shown that 25,000 fewer people have applied to start degree courses at UK universities and colleges this autumn, compared to last year. This...
5 steps to getting the best from your new employee
How many times have you hired a new employee at your setting, only to find the following happens? They’re making too many mistakes They don’t understand what they’re supposed to do They’re underperforming If you find this is happening quite...
6 ways you can encourage staff to take higher level training at your setting
Even when you have hard working, passionate staff at your setting, some individuals may lack the drive to put themselves forward for their next childcare qualification. But staff training and development is not only essential to make...
How to improve the performance of your employees
One of the key factors for having a successful setting is to ensure that your staff are performing to the best of their abilities, both as a team and individually. We’ve put together a few steps to help you improve the performance of staff in...
5 key benefits of regular staff training and development
With so much to juggle on a daily basis in your busy setting, the importance of staff training can be easily overlooked. However, holding regular training sessions can have a really positive effect on your team which goes beyond developing staff...
7 employee benefits that cost little or nothing
Early attachments are fundamental in helping children develop through the early learning goals, and some would argue that high staff turnover can have a particularly damaging effect on these attachments. When key members of staff decide to move...
What do employers look for in apprentices?
Here at Parenta, we employ apprentices in many different areas of our business. We spoke with our HR Manager, Emily Marshall, to find out what employers are really looking for when they choose candidates for apprenticeship positions. 1. What top...
5 top tips to save money on your staffing costs
Regardless of the size of your business, staff are typically your most expensive asset. After pensions, NI contributions, training costs (the list goes on!), it’s easy to see how typical estimates put the cost of employees at 60% or even 70% of...
Employer responsibilities towards apprentices
Recruiting an apprentice is an effective way for businesses to grow their own talent, whilst also developing individuals who will fill future gaps in the workforce. However, by employing an apprentice, every business has responsibilities to meet...
How to improve recruitment at your setting
With long hours and low pay a factor which drives many people away from working in childcare, what can you do to improve recruitment at your setting? We explore 5 ways to fill vacancies at your nursery more quickly. 1. Hold an Employment Open...
How will the new apprenticeship reforms affect the way you train staff?
As part of a national drive to train 3 million new apprentices by 2020, the way the Government funds apprenticeships in England is changing. Employers with an annual wage bill of £3 million or more will be required to pay a levy which will come...
How do you manage staff who are not performing effectively?
Regardless of the industry you work in, you’re more than likely to come across staff members who are not performing their role effectively. There could be a variety of reasons for this, including personal problems at home interfering with work,...
Keep your employees motivated this new year
The first few weeks back after the Christmas break can be hard for many. With new targets to achieve and sometimes new staff members to integrate into the team, it can be difficult for staff to stay motivated. So, here are some top tips to help...
