There is no legal requirement for early years settings to submit details, but local authorities can set local requirements to do so. The Early Years Workforce Qualifications Audit Tool, which went live on the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) website last week, will share data with local authorities, the DCSF and other government agencies.
But nursery owners claim it will duplicate information they already give to local authorities and question what the personal details of workers will be used for.
Chair of the Childcare Corporation, Alan Bentley, said, 'I find some of the questions asked, especially regarding ethnicity and disability, not only unwarranted but beyond an acceptable limit. It makes me wonder what the purpose of the form is.'
The form asks practitioners to choose one of 23 categories to describe their ethnicity, and under disability asks individuals if they have a 'serious mental health condition' or 'chronic illness'.
The Childcare Corporation, which runs 20 nurseries, has been told by one local authority that they risk losing their nursery education grant funding if they do not submit the information.
Childcare director Sue Meekings said, 'How can local authorities pull our funding over filling in a training form?'
She said the group already keeps records of staff qualifications which it passes to local authorities that request it.
'We have 800 staff. Every member will have to fill in a form and sign it to comply with data protection issues. We are being asked to duplicate what good providers already do. It incurs a lot more work for no benefit to us and it won't be a proper picture unless everyone agrees to sign up.'
Time-consuming process
The Pre-school Learning Alliance, which earlier this year carried out a survey for the CWDC on whether a web-based toolkit would be useful, warned it could be time-consuming, especially for smaller settings that rent accommodation and do not have internet access at work, which would mean completing it at home.
Michael Freeston, director of quality improvement, said, 'Members' biggest concern is around the time it will take to complete the database. It's a major logistical exercise, but recognition of the importance of correct data when so much government focus is on qualifications and training.'
He added, 'It's not compulsory yet but my understanding is it will become a tool which Ofsted inspectors will use.
'Settings will want to know what this information is for. If it's used by local authorities to analyse training needs, that would be useful. But if it's used to inform the way local authorities allocate the single funding formula, then the CWDC will have to ensure the data is monitored and policed. Some departments don't have a great record on keeping data safe.'
The CWDC said there was no deadline for settings to enter data on the audit tool and completing it was not mandatory (see below).
A DCSF spokesperson said it provided 'settings and local authorities with a universal system for recognising training and development needs. It is for local authorities to determine funding; however, we would not expect them to base funding decisions solely on the uptake of this tool'.
What's on the database?
The CWDC says the audit tool will create 'the first accurate picture of the early years workforce' and is an easy way for settings to hold details of qualifications and training, check staff qualifications meet the minimum qualification requirements for the EYFS and plan appropriate training.
Information will be shared with local authorities, the DCSF and other government agencies. Local authorities will be able to see the qualifications of all staff to plan and budget for training. Gillian Gaskell, project co-ordinator in early years at CWDC, said it would 'assist settings and local authorities in capturing workforce data effectively, rather than using it as a method to determine funding. Local authorities may choose to view the audit tool to check the progress in staff qualifications in different settings. This may provide part of the evidence-base for incentivising quality but this will be at their discretion and must comply with the requirements of the single funding formula.
'Local authorities may choose to incentivise settings to enter data, but settings are under no legal obligation to do so.'
Ms Gaskell said the CWDC needed to ask questions about ethnicity and disability to understand the impact of its work on different sections of the workforce. Personal information would be processed in accordance with the UK Data Protection Act 1998.
'We will only use the information provided for the purposes that the setting manager has agreed to, or for other lawful disclosed purposes. Those entering the information must gain consent of all employees and volunteers for it to be shared,' she said.