A unique new education centre will open tonight in Campbelltown TAFE which will be great news for local child care students as well as families with children.
The Children’s Education and Care Training Centre of Excellence will offer a simulated work environment for TAFE child care students to ensure they get the practical skills they need before entering the workforce.
At the same time the centre will be open to the community in a playgroup setting, where families and their children engage in the experiences that students set up.
“Students who attend the simulated work space will have the opportunity to put the theory they learn in class into practice with the families that attend the early learning training centre,’’ says Erin Williams, head teacher from Children’s Education and Care, TAFE NSW Campbelltown College.
“This simulated training environment ensures that students have the necessary practical skills for the job before they attend work placement in industry.
“This ensures that we are sending skilled students into the workplace.’’
TAFE South West Sydney Institute [SWSI] says that the training centre will not be a child care centre nor a place where students can leave their children while they attend class.
“The centre will be a real unique support system for members of the community, especially low income earners and single mums,’’ Erin Williams said.
“It’s essentially set up as a simulated work environment for our TAFE students to learn and gain the necessary practical skills for the job before they enter the industry.’’
The centre will offers families in the community a place to go with their children if they are not ready to attend a registered early learning centre or just wish to attend a safe and fun environment with a focus on learning.
It means these families will also have access to trained Early Childhood Educators who supervise the students but also offer advice to families which may have questions about their child’s development.
The centre also supports parents coping with a child with an additional needs diagnosis and also offers classes in school readiness skills for the children.
It’s extremely affordable, so is accessible for parents with low income in the Campbelltown/Macarthur area.
Campbelltown Family Support Service, Claymore Community Centre and Claymore Public School are some of the local groups which will be involved in a partnership with the new centre.
