The first 40 recruits to the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL) enrolled on the pilot course in September and have a range of early years backgrounds in health, education and social care.
The programme will be rolled out from September next year with a minimum of 400 places fully funded by the DfES.
Maggie Farrar, assistant director of the college, gave an overview of the development and an update on the qualification at the National Day Nurseries' Conference in London last week. She said the fact that the NPQICL was at Master's level was 'critically important' in raising the status of early years' leadership.
The programme will be rolled out from September next year with a minimum of 400 places fully funded by the DfES. Priority will be given to candidates who are currently leaders or aspiring leaders in designated children's centres. Staff working in integrated settings, such as Sure Start, Early Excellence Centres, Neighbourhood Nurseries and extended schools, could also be eligible.
Henley Management College has been appointed as evaluators of the programme. Invitations to tender for providers interested in running the course will be out by December, a bidders' conference will take place in January and contracts will be awarded in March. Stakeholder events take place in December and regional briefings will be given in nine areas from January to March.
A private sector focus group is being set up. To take part e-mail mwhalley@northamptonshire.gov.uk, and for more information on the qualification e-mail npqicl@ncsl.org.uk.