Government’s Children’s Workforce Strategy Criticised
SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Active Leisure and Learning, claimed last week that the government’s new Children’s Workforce Strategy neglects the needs of professionals and employers across their sector.
Active Leisure and Learning professions include playworkers, lifeguards, and sports coaches, who all play a crucial role in combating Britain’s childhood obesity epidemic. But while recognising play, sport and leisure as important, the government has given priority to other sectors like Early Years Education.
SkillsActive say that only proper recognition and development of skills will address the widespread problem of recruitment and retention faced by employers in their sector. They plan to use a four-month consultation period to lobby hard on behalf of their members. “There will, without doubt, be a very lively debate between now and July,” promised Paul Bonel, a SkillsActive director.
Joseph Paget