The Graduate Entry Pathway and Undergraduate Practitioner Pathway candidates who started with us in January 2012 are now coming to their final summative assessments. All candidates have been submitting written assignments or reflecting on their module assignments as part of the summative assessment. There have been sessions on compiling the portfolio of documents, witness testimonies and preparation for setting visits along with a range of individual tutorials to discuss progress. The setting visits are being booked for the first two weeks in December and these candidates will be the last to be assessed on the 39 EYPS Professional Standards.
Recruitment for January 2013
We are in the process of recruitment for January 2013. The University of Chichester is recruiting for the Graduate Practitioner Pathway, while some of our Consortium partners are recruiting for the remaining pathways. We are also putting out feelers for the September 2013 intake when we will run all four pathways again.
Research evidence into positive benefits of EYPs in settings
The recently published ‘Longitudinal Study of Early Years Professional Status: an exploration of progress, leadership and impact - Final report’ by Hadfield et al (2012) provided research evidence to support the benefits in respect of increases in quality that having an EYP in a setting can bring. This report is supported by anecdotal feedback from our accredited EYPs who report personal growth and an understanding of the positive benefits they are bringing to their settings.
Development reviews for GPPs
Our GPPs who started in September 2012 are having their development reviews this month. They have assessed their strengths and development needs when meeting the new standards and will have the opportunity to discuss this with a member of the EYPS team. The formative feedback will help to guide them to their final assessment.
Learning journeys this month
This month’s focus for our four pathways is in the following areas:-
Safeguarding and child protection
Candidates are discussing the key features of safeguarding, working through case studies and considering the current events in the media. This allows critical reflection on the issue of child protection and a chance to talk about potential events. The candidates then reflect on how they can link this knowledge to their practice in respect of meeting standard 3 of the EYPS Professional Standards.
Outdoor play
Candidates consider why being outdoors is important and how children learn in the outdoor environment. They reflect on the Scandinavian model of Forest Schools and some will be able to visit a Forest School as part of their pathway. Once again links are made with practice and the EYPS Professional Standards.
Observation, assessment and planning
This session is designed to help candidates understand their role in the observation, assessment and planning cycle. There are links to the revised EYFS and the characteristics of effective learning and how candidates can support children’s play and scaffold their learning as appropriate. The close of each session asks candidates how they use this information to evidence the EYPS National Standards.