Lessons from a qualified toddler group leader

Tracey Austin has been involved with toddler groups for 10 years. Now, as a paid member of staff at Oasis Christian Centre in Long Eaton near Nottingham, she personally runs five different groups a week, and oversees another one in a nearby village.

So, what does she consider vital to running a successful group? "Keep it simple and gradually build up," she says. "And concentrate on the little things - the welcome is so important.

"We've found it helpful to develop a routine, like always having singing times at the end. It helps to do what you know the children enjoy. We also have 'toast time' - in fact, we're known at the 'Toast Toddler Group'. We charge 10p a slice and have a large catering-style toaster to make it quickly. We share the work - mums have to get their own toast and coffee!"

Training

"When I started helping out with Toddler Time I was just one of the team. I never set out to become the leader, but people left and I was asked by the church to take over.

"There were other people in the church with qualifications in Early Years child care. But I don't think it's about the qualifications. I think what's important is to look for who is doing it and who has a heart for it. I had fallen in love with toddler work as I helped."

Tracey is qualified now, though. "After leading the group for a while, I studied to do an NVQ3 through the 'Train to Gain' scheme. I spent some hours at college, to gain things like a Health and Safety Certificate and train in First Aid, but 80% of my 'course' was done vocationally at the toddler group, which made it much easier. I had to spend a set number of hours working with the children.

"It has been good for me personally to gain the NVQ3. If I felt it was time to move on, I would have a qualification to back up my experience. But it's also good for our group. It helps when working with Sure Start or Health Visitors, as I have a professional qualification too, and the mums respect me more.

"It also makes you think about aspects of the group, like a Safeguarding Policy or Health and Safety issues, which are very important."

Gaining confidence

The church vision is to employ more people in the future, but for now Tracey is the only paid member of a toddler team that numbers about 10, with several of her volunteers helping with more than one group a week. Tracey plans the sessions and also mucks in - she says doing the hoovering after 'messy play' is "very therapeutic".

"I lacked confidence when I started, but gradually I have had to overcome that. For example, I needed to lead singing time. I believe God enabled me to overcome my awkwardness and do that. Now I find I can do it without any fear."

Faith in action

"We do a Christian song each week and we have some Christian stories mixed in with other ones, but we don't talk about faith stuff all the time. Our hope is that through our actions, and the Holy Spirit in us, people will see our faith in action.

"We had over 100 people at our nativity play. We had four parties before Christmas, with about 100 people at each - half were children, half were parents. We've got a good reputation for our parties!"

Tracey is now embarking on a Foundation degree in Early Years at Derby University. "I'm doing one night a week and it will take three years to complete all the modules. But I know that, as the toddler work develops, it will benefit me and the group."

Last Updated 06 December 2010