It is hoped the profession will attract graduates from a wide range of backgrounds, including teachers, social workers and community nurses, as well as those with early years, childhood and play qualifications.
CWDC chief executive Jane Haywood told Nursery World, 'We think there are very few people in the workforce at present who have the full certified package. If you're a qualified teacher, you probably haven't done enough on child development and the nought to threes. If you've got your early years foundation degree you're at a level 5 and you'll need to do a top-up, and if you're an early childhood studies graduate, academically you've got it but you probably haven't got the practice experience.'
Candidates who do not hold a degree or relevant qualification also have the chance to become an EYP if they 'demonstrate that, by other means, they have the knowledge, skills and understanding equivalent to such a qualification'. They will also need a minimum of 'two years relevant experience covering birth to the end of the Foundation Stage'.
CWDC national development manager for early years Pauline Jones said, 'We don't want to close the door on any group. The pathway will vary depending on people's backgrounds. Also, we will be working with very experienced training providers who will be able to make these decisions.'
CWDC is looking for ten organisations across England to deliver the EYP training. Pilot training and assessment programmes will be introduced this September, and the first EYPs will be in place by 2007.
Ms Haywood said, 'This is not about shipping in a set of professionals to tell everyone else how to do it; it's about upskilling the whole workforce.
It's important we get the work-based routes in place.'
However, early years consultants have expressed concerns that teachers could be displaced by EYPs and a two-tier system could be created, with those teaching the under-fives viewed as inferior to those teaching beyond the Foundation Stage.
Ms Haywood acknowledged that the relationship between Qualified Teacher Status and EYP status was one of the 'big issues'.
Currently children's centres are required to have access to an early years teacher on a half-time basis, but it is yet to be decided if the EYP will replace this. The Government wants an EYP in every children's centre by 2010, and in every full daycare setting by 2015. The CWDC believes that over time the Early Years Foundation Stage should be delivered only by people with EYP status.
The consultation ends on 19 May, and a final version of the standards will be published in July. The consultation is at www.cwdcouncil.org.uk.