Thames Valley University (TVU) will not allow new students on the two-year course, based at its Reading campus. The university will still offer NVQs up to Level 4.
Twelve first-year students who are currently enrolled on the level 3 diploma course will have to transfer to alternative providers to complete their studies. The majority are expected to go the Berkshire College of Agriculture.
Lee Nicholls, executive director of the Reading campus, said, 'Arrangements, including transport, are being made to ensure this causes minimum disruption to students.'
He added that most of those affected were in their second year and would complete the course at TVU this summer.'
Early years trainer Tina Jefferies said, 'The two-year diploma has always provided breadth and depth of care and learning knowledge, gathered in a wide range of settings, with sufficient underpinning theory and a mandatory baby care module, which other routes do not mandatorily provide. With so many routes to training now, demand has to be spread across many options. This must impact on reduced course recruitment.'
She said less money seemed available for initial training particularly for 'learning centre-based' courses, which are more expensive. 'These are often better routes for those leaving school and building their knowledge from scratch.'
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said demand for level 3 was not falling. 'Statistics show that staff working to or achieving level 3 is on the up, and we believe this will continue as settings work towards improved skills in line with the Government vision for all staff to be qualified to a minimum of level 3 by 2015.'