Over 60 candidates from East Lothian Council’s Education and Children’s Services Department celebrated their new qualifications at a special East Lothian graduation ceremony on Monday 2 November 2009 at Jewel and Esk College.  The college’s newly refurbished campus on the boundaries of East Lothian provided a suitably impressive setting for the event. 

Education and Children’s Services Convener Peter MacKenzie presented the awards, and there were contributions from East Lothian Council Chief Executive Alan Blackie, Acting Executive Director of Education and Children’s and Children’s Services Don Ledingham, and Fiona Clarke, who is the Senior Education and Workforce Development Adviser with the Scottish Social Services Council.

The graduates included people working in early years and childcare, education, children’s services social work and foster care.  The qualifications being awarded included entry level National Progression Awards for people starting careers in childcare and early years, a range of social work modules and the BA in Childhood Practice. 

Seven East Lothian foster carers were honoured at the event.  Six of them achieved an SVQ Level III in Health and Social Care (Children and Young People) and one was also awarded a Certificate of Higher Education in Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

Seven Children’s Services social work staff achieved a wide range of awards.  Three staff gained a Social Work Module in Practice Development, one gained Supervising and Mentoring in Child Care and Protection, one gained a Leading to Deliver qualification, one achieved an award from the Virtual Staff College Scotland in Knowing the Business and one HNC in Business Management.

Two staff received awards, one HNC in Business and IT and a Professional Development Joint Award (PDA) Childcare.

The event also celebrated the achievements of the forty-five people who have completed childcare awards this year under the auspices of the East Lothian Childcare Partnership with eight gaining SVQ Level IV, six  in Children’s Care Learning and Development and two in Playwork.  There were also two candidates successful achieved the BA in Childhood Practice. 

Since 2003, East Lothian Childcare Partnership has funded over 500 candidates to access courses leading to qualifications and offered over 900 continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities to the East Lothian early years and childcare workforce.  The programme is continuing this year with a push towards allowing the workforce to gain qualifications at degree level to meet the Scottish Government vision of a workforce that can support the best services for children, young people and families. 

Every year since 2003, there has been an increase in the percentage of qualified staff working in the early years and childcare workforce – this year, 80 per cent hold formal qualifications.

Education and Children’s Service Convener Peter MacKenzie said:

‘Qualifications bring huge benefits to those who achieve them, the people that they work with and the wider community.  They open up a wide range of job opportunities, enhancing knowledge and skills, and are helping us to provide quality services across East Lothian.

‘I thank all our graduates, whether they were here this evening or not, for their dedication and ambition.  It takes a lot of determination to study when you’re also working and trying to have a family life too.  Their effort will benefit all of us.’