The warning came following the National Centre for School Leadership's announcement that from this month, first-time headteachers of nursery schools designated to become children's centres can choose between two leadership qualifications: the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL) or the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), the former mandatory qualification for any new head.
But speaking in her capacity as early childhood professional, Pauline Trudell, who is also the support headteacher to the Forum for Maintained Nursery Schools and Children's Centres, said that any qualification that separates nursery schools from mainstream schools is 'dangerous' at a time when they are vulnerable to closure.
She said, 'If all new heads opt for the NPQICL this will further exacerbate the situation. Nursery school headteachers require the same initial qualifications as all other headteachers; their governing bodies have the same powers. We must maintain the connection with all other schools if we have any hope of surviving.'
Ms Trudell said that she has 'enormous respect' for the work of Dr Margy Whalley, the director of Pen Green Leadership Development Centre, who is leading the qualification in partnership with the National College for School Leadership. But she said, 'A better option would have been to link modules on leadership in nursery schools and integrated centres into the standard NPQH qualification.'
Julian Grenier, head of Kate Greenaway Nursery School in London, said, 'There's always the danger that nursery schools could drift away from schools, but I don't think this has anything to do with the NPQICL.'
'The NPQH is not the right training course for heads of integrated centres.
For me it's really important that there's an equivalent qualification for the early years sector.'
He said that to avoid a split from the school system, heads of children's centres should be teacher-qualified. Children's centres should maintain a strong focus on the quality of their nursery education and childcare, and join networks with primary and special schools.
To apply for the NPQICL visit www.ncsl.org.uk/npqicl.
He said that there are ways to address the issue of a possible split between nursery schools and the rest of the school system. 'Firstly, I think that heads of children's centres should be teacher-qualified, and should be working closely with other headteachers in their area. Overall, children's centres need to be held together by people from a range of professional backgrounds. They should maintain a strong focus on the quality of their nursery education and childcare, and where possible become involved in networks with primary and special schools.'