4Children unveiled a specialised training module designed to provide a routemap to better integrated and inter-disciplinary services between frontline early years workers. The programme, Integrated Practice: A programme of learning for early years and childcare practitioners, is delivered through two unit modules aimed at Level 3 practitioners and undertaken through a combination of taught and setting-based study – combining policy and practice to make a reality of frontline working that is better coordinated and more systematically linked between services.

The module has been launched as a tool to realise Government proposals to better coordinate services and to create a more joined up approach in meeting the developmental and support needs of children and parents. Following a national consultation of over 1,000 early years and childcare workers, 4Children has brought together a range of partners – including the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the National Children’s Bureau – to create the programme, which is accredited by Edexcel to recognise demonstrated ability to integrate working practices within specialised fields.

The Integrated Practice programme works through a combination of case studies, research based methods and expert advice on best practice to identify ways to use joined-up working to deliver better outcomes for children across a range of areas. Module content has been developed in a way that is easily transferred for use across a number of settings, including those working in pre-schools, nurseries and out of school centres, as well as by childminders and home based carers.

Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive of 4Children said:
"The benefits of partnership building and joining up work to deliver a more comprehensive and effective offer to children and parents are beyond doubt. Linking together services and working together across disciplines to support children is the key to improving outcomes for children and narrowing the gap – ensuring fast referrals to tackle specialist need, targeted help for vulnerable children and more effective parent support. Too often frontline workers – the most important link in the chain and those with the most contact with children and parents – feel remote from policy concerning integration of services. This programme offers a practical toolkit that can turn policy into practice for those key workers, as well as for children and parents."

A spokesperson for the Department for Children, Families and Schools said:
“The Department welcomes the publication of Integrated Practice which provides an accessible route to developing skills and knowledge in integrated working. Products like these help to support practitioners to contribute to the Every Child Matters: Change for Children agenda and support better outcomes for children, young people and their families.”

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