Cuts to CWDC raise fears over Early Years Professional Status

Early years experts told Nursery World that they are worried about the impact that the cuts, which were announced last Monday, will have on the funding provided by the CWDC for EYPS pathways. The CWDC has yet to confirm where cuts will be made.

Helen Willis, EYP lead officer at union Aspect said, ‘The cuts are very concerning for early years. The Government has only recently begun to focus attention and even basic funding towards the provision for our youngest children, and recognised the need for high quality provision. Developments such as the EYPS programme, and support such as the Graduate Leader Fund, are crucial in supporting this drive for consistent high quality across the sector and must continue. Compared with schools and higher education, early years remains even now poorly funded.’

Tina Ironside, workforce development manager at Dorset county council, said, ‘The CWDC cuts may affect the funding they provide for EYP pathways. However, £15m is only 10 per cent of the CWDC’s budget, and we don’t know yet which area of their business they will cut back on.’

She added, ‘Money that local authorities have received for EYPS has come from the Graduate Leader Fund, which comes directly from the Department of Education and not the CWDC. This money is given to settings as incentives to employ an EYP and to fund those completing the early years foundation degree, and this funding has not been cut for this year. However, we don’t yet know what is going to happen to the GLF after April 2011.’
 
Karen Walker, director of Children’s Place, which owns seven nurseries, added, ‘My concern is that there will not be the same commitment to EYPS. I suspect that the Graduate Leader Fund will also face cuts at some stage. What we don’t want is a diminishing standard. We need to maintain what we achieved so far in terms of raising the standards of the early years workforce.’