Council’s Men in Childcare course to tackle gender imbalances

Perth and Kinross Council is set to roll out a Men in Childcare course.

The course will begin on October 22 and run on Monday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, until the end of March, in the community wing of Perth Grammar School.

Students will experience early years and childcare theory and practice, with support from council staff. Those who attend the sessions will have the opportunity to gain a recognised SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) credit from Perth College UHI.

The Men in Childcare Course has been recognised for championing gender equality by the Public Sector Awards.

A council spokesperson said: “The course aims to address the gender imbalance in the childcare workforce. We identified the need to redress the balance and established this course to not only encourage more men into childcare and give children access to a range of positive role models but also to promote positive male role models specifically in childcare settings.”

And councillor Caroline Shiers, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s education and lifelong learning committee, added: “Youngsters can spend considerable amounts of time in childcare so it is important for them to have access to both male and female staff members.

“Just 4% of nursery teachers in Scotland are currently male. However, it is believed shifting this balance would have wider benefits for society by providing children with positive role models of both genders in early learning and childcare settings.”

For more information phone 01738 472350 or e-mail childcare@pkc.gov.uk