Earn and learn is the motto of a new course for child care workers at York College. Maxine Gordon goes back to the classroom to find out more.

MUM of four Karen Walker never thought she would end up working with children.

Like many other parents, the 43-year-old from Wigginton just wanted to 'do her bit' when she began helping out at the local playgroup when her children were small.

However, fast forward 18 years and Karen is not only working at the village's Jack In The Box Pre-School, she is also a teaching assistant at Wigginton Primary School.

Also, for the past two years she has been studying for a Foundation Degree in Early Years at York College.

This is a new qualification open to anyone with a Level 3 qualification in child care and a minimum of two years work experience with children. Students have to attend college for one long session a week - from 2.30pm-9pm - for three years.

Should they wish, they can then top up the qualification with a further year's study at Leeds Metropolitan University for a BA (Hons) in either childhood studies, play work or education studies.

Lindy Illingworth, of the child studies department at York College, said the new qualification was part of a government drive to raise standards among people who work with young children.

She said: "It's all about producing highly-qualified experienced staff. Many parents work now and want that feeling of security that they are leaving their children with professional carers in a stimulating and well-cared for environment where they can have positive learning experiences."

A great plus for the course, adds Lindy, is that students can continue to work throughout the three years, which not only helps financially but also allows them to put into practice everything they are learning.

"The whole idea is to 'earn and learn'," says Lindy. Among the present intake are nursery owners, teaching assistants and employees with the Government's Sure Start programme.

However, Lindy says childminders, nursery workers, pre-school and playgroup staff, play workers and people working in after-school clubs would all be ideal candidates for the degree course. The college is now recruiting for a new intake in September. Fees are £650 a year.

Karen said: "It's given me a lot more confidence when working with other professionals and more confidence in what I am doing in my job."

She also said that young children deserved the very best in teaching and support. She added: "Research indicates if children have a good start it impacts on their education as they go through school."

Rosie Gregson, 29, works in the nursery at York College and went straight into the second year of the Foundation Degree because she already had an advanced diploma in child care.

She said: "I'm doing this for my own professional development and because I enjoy it. There is a lot of discussion about what we do in practice and it makes you appreciate the good things you do and where you could improve."

Fellow student Kerry Revill, 21, is a play co-ordinator at Hob Moor Fun Club, an after-school club based at Hob Moor School in York.

One of her achievements has been to introduce a behaviour policy at the club, based on her studies at York College.

Updated: 09:38 Tuesday, July 05, 2005