Health Improvement staff from Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) have developed an online training programme supporting Early Learning Establishments (ELCs) in Glasgow to work towards Gender Friendly Nursery Accreditation.

For several years Barbara Adzajlic and Susie Heywood from our HSCP’s North East Health Improvement Team have run the ‘Gender Friendly Nursery (GFN)’ staff training and awareness raising programme with nursery staff. The programme looks at gender equality, gender equity and how to reduce gender stereotypes. It explains to Early Years staff the links between gender and a range of public health and other issues. These include gender based violence, mental health and suicide, homophobia and transphobia, parenting, education, employability and the gender pay gap.

Engagement in the programme prior to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was good with around 45 nurseries having attended the training.  Feedback showed that the programme was inspiring new thinking and leading to changes in practice, with around 11 nurseries taking active steps towards accreditation.

The inability to deliver face-to-face in-person training during the pandemic was a real barrier to the continued rollout of the programme.  Undeterred Barbara and Susie were keen to explore what elements of the training could be delivered using online video conferencing software. They began by piloting a series of one hour webinars from May to July 2020 on the theme of ‘gender stereotyping in the early years.’ They were overwhelmed at the response to these with upwards of 100 individuals attending over the series.

Due to this success, the full Gender Friendly Nursery training course was translated into an online delivery format. Nursery staff were provided with two pre-recorded sessions to watch at their convenience and then invited to take part in two live interactive virtual training sessions.  

Susie explains: “Given the pressures facing the ELC workforce we were unsure what level of uptake we would have for these sessions. Barbara and I are so passionate about this work, but we know that nursery staff have many other demands on their time. We were absolutely delighted when so many staff signed up to take part.”

As of June 2021, Health Improvement staff have engaged virtually with a further 59 staff from 29 nurseries across Glasgow, meaning the programme has been able to continue even under the restrictions we have all faced over the last year.

Barbara explains: “I think this is testament to how well regarded the Gender Friendly Nursery programme and training are in early years settings and a sign of the commitment of staff to address the issues associated with gender stereotyping, which can limit children even from such an early age.”

Although online training can have its drawbacks, 80% of those who completed the full course said that the format worked for them, and participant feedback included many positive comments.

For example one participant said: “I’ve really had my eyes opened to how much children are subject to gender stereotypes throughout their lives, from birth onwards, and how much gender stereotypes have affected me and my close circle, too.”  Another explained: “This course has made me consider the importance of my role in helping to reduce gender inequalities and how much of an impact gender stereotypes have on young children from an early stage and may influence their career choices.”

Health Improvement staff were also able to launch and begin using a new short film developed for the programme and funded through NHS Endowments. The film, which is narrated by Jane McCarry (better known as Isa from the Still Game series), shows a group of children speaking about gender roles. It demonstrates that while young children are still influenced by gender stereotypes, exposure to people undertaking non stereotypical roles can change perceptions and ideas. You can view the film at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak4p8y2CxDU

For more information of the Gender Friendly Nursery programme contact Susie Heywood at Susie.heywood@ggc.scot.nhs.uk