It comes after the Department for Education (DfE) announced plans to review and reform the qualification last October, as part of its measures to address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on young children.
As part of the review, nursery staff, owners and managers, childminders, academics, local authorities, parents and carers will be asked for their feedback on how the Level 3 EYE, including the criteria underpinning the qualification, could be improved.
Commissioned by the DfE, the review, which will be the first of the Level 3 since 2014, is to be undertaken by the education charity and leader in vocational learning NCFE, supported by the Early Years Alliance, Education Policy Institute (EPI) and the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY).
NCFE chief executive David Gallagher said, ‘We’re proud to have been trusted with a project that will help to shape the quality and consistency of early years education in the sector.
‘This review is about bringing the sector together and we want everyone to play their part in shaping how early years education is delivered, now and in the future.’
Children and families minister, Will Quince, added, ‘I’m pleased to be working with NCFE on the Level 3 Review: a key programme within our early years education recovery package, which is addressing the impact of the pandemic on the youngest children.
‘The early years sector has worked incredibly hard to support families over the past few years and I want to continue working with them to improve the quality of qualifications. By engaging with groups across the sector, we aim to strengthen the quality of Level 3 qualifications and provide higher-quality training for early years educators.’