Trainee teachers can now learn on the job, and facilities at one of York's new children's centres make it easier for early years specialists to get on, as education reporter HAYDN LEWIS found.

THE idea behind children's centres is to put schools at the heart of the community, providing an all-round service.

York is ahead of the game, with plans for eight centres. The one at Clifton Green Primary School has a day nursery for youngsters aged zero to five, out-of-school clubs, a private day nursery, and a Sure Start facility.

This not only enables parents to make use of all these facilities on one site. It also allows people starting out in early years teaching to get a foot on the ladder.

Clifton Children's Centre has four York College students, who are studying for the Early Years Foundation Degree, working alongside each other in the different facilities.

Teaching assistants Carolyn Godfrey and Jo Gardner are in the second year of their Early Years Foundation Degree; Sure Start practitioner Ann Walker is also in the second year; and the manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Jill Graham, is in her first year.

The course provides on-the-job training, plus time for study one afternoon and evening per week for three years.

Jo said: "It's really enjoyable working with the children here, seeing them enjoying what they are learning and coming on as they progress."

Carolyn, a special needs teaching assistant, said: "Because it's a work-based qualification it means you get hands-on experience. You can actually see what you are reading about in books and learning in lectures happening in the classroom."

Lindy Illingworth, curriculum leader for child studies at York College, said: "The idea of this course in early years is that students get transferable skills, so they can be a teaching assistant or a nursery manager."

Alison Walls, the head of Sure Start in York, said: "This new way of working is developing fast, and demands new knowledge for all professionals.

"Childcare practitioners are meeting the challenge academically and putting their new skills into practice on a daily basis at Clifton, where parents perceive the benefits to children of accessible childcare practitioners as developing new skills, creating precious memories, and being part of a community."