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EYP standards set 'too low'

The new Early Years Professional qualification is not of an 'intellectually rigorous standard' nor does it require 'enough experience' to do the job knowledgeably and in the interest of children and families, concerned nursery schools heads have warned. Members of the National Campaign for Real Nursery Education (NCRNE), who met last month, expressed concern that EYPs would replace teachers in the future, with a 'consequent lowering of status for the profession'.
The new Early Years Professional qualification is not of an 'intellectually rigorous standard' nor does it require 'enough experience' to do the job knowledgeably and in the interest of children and families, concerned nursery schools heads have warned.

Members of the National Campaign for Real Nursery Education (NCRNE), who met last month, expressed concern that EYPs would replace teachers in the future, with a 'consequent lowering of status for the profession'.

In response to the launch of the EYP prospectus last Friday, Judy Evans, outgoing chair of the NCRNE, said, 'As it stands, the EYP qualification does not call for enough in-depth experience to qualify practitioners to do this job knowledgably and in the interest of children and their families.'

Early years specialist Pauline Trudell, of Early Education, said that the clear intention of the qualification is to have a 'cheaper teacher'. She said, 'The new EYFS framework gives the opportunity to look at improving teacher training by deepening teacher input into children's development.

But the fact that the Government has invented a new category of person - the EYP - indicates that it's a cost-cutting exercise. They are not prepared to pay the EYP the same rates as teachers, and there is no indication in the consultation or the prospectus of the salary or the terms and conditions of the EYP.'

She warned, 'We may be faced with EYPs replacing early years teachers. This would be a huge disadvantage.'

Ms Evans said she had heard that the majority of people who had applied for the first tranche of EYP training were already qualified teachers. She said, 'If that's the case, it would be good news because people leading and managing the centres would be from an educational background.'

But a spokesperson for the National Day Nurseries Association, which is one of the 13 course providers, said that it had received applications from all sectors of the workforce, including teachers, early years foundation degree students and those below degree level seeking advice on how to become an EYP.

In response to the NCRNE's comments, Jane Haywood, chief executive of the Children's Workforce Development Council, said, 'We are sorry they feel this way and hope that when the standards are published in mid-July they will see that they are rigorous and exacting. We have worked closely with key partners to ensure these set a very high standard for EYPs. We are committed to ensuring that only the very best achieve the status so we can improve practice across all early years settings.'