This month, learners will begin studying for a new early years Level 3 qualification designed to meet the requirements of the revised EYFS and the recommendations of the Nutbrown Review of staff qualifications.
Edexcel's BTEC in Children's Play, Learning and Development has been developed as a sector-specific award for staff working with the birth to eight age range, unlike the Level 3 Diploma in the Children's and Young People's Workforce (CYPW) which covers an age range of 0 - 19 but carries a suite of early years units.
The new award has been developed in close consultation with leading nursery chains and early years organisations to meet the needs of employers. One of those involved was Nicola Amies, director of early years at Bright Horizons, who describes the new qualification as 'The NNEB for the 21st Century'.
She says, 'We were absolutely delighted that Edexcel engaged with a number of the big providers and tutors from FE and HE establishments. They got us round a table and said "Tell us what you need for the sector?" It was a breath of fresh air. It got us right back to what employers need to deliver the best outcomes for children.'
At Edexcel, Ria Bhatta, BTEC business manager (Health & Social Care, Childcare & Education), reports that the BTEC is still awaiting approval from the Teaching Agency as a full and relevant qualification. The agency insists it must await the Government's official response to the Nutbrown Review, due later this autumn, before it can begin mapping qualifications against the new criteria.
Ms Bhatta says, 'Given how it has been designed to meet the criteria set out in Nutbrown, we are optimistic.'
INCREASING EMPLOYABILITY
Early years consultant Penny Tassoni, who advised Edexcel on the development of the award, believes it is necessary to meet the need for a specialist workforce, with a strong understanding of child development and play.
'It is very robust and equips learners to understand the stages of development so they can meet the needs of the individual children in their care,' she says.
Ms Tassoni consulted leading employers such as kidsunlimited, Childbase and The Childcare Corporation as well as Bright Horizons. Organisations such as the National Childminding Association, National Day Nurseries Association, Montessori, Steiner and National Autistic Society were also involved in the development of units.
'I was keen to ensure that the qualification would give learners exactly what they need to go out and take their place in the workforce straight away,' Ms Tassoni says. 'It will make learners very employable. At a time of recession it is very important that employers are recruiting staff who are competent from day one.'
She adds, 'I am a great fan of the Nutbrown report and I think this qualification will send out the message that to work in early years requires a high level of skill combined with empathy, thoughtfulness and kindness.'
Ms Amies also supports the award's emphasis on the importance of the key person, which she says employers feel is an element missing from the CYPW.
PRACTICE AND THEORY
Tutors are also welcoming the new qualification. At Norland College, Mandy Donaldson, vice-principal (academic), believes the new programme has been designed to tackle the 'intertwined' aspects that underpin early years work - the practical and the theoretical. She says, 'Settings want practitioners who are able to carry out all aspects of the job, from preparing powder paint and making playdough to dealing with parents professionally and respectfully. For too long, Level 3 qualified practitioners have left college without a full understanding of their responsibilities and without the skills needed to hit the ground running. Settings can be confident that Level 3 practitioners who have achieved the BTEC CPLD qualification are knowledgeable, skilful and useful employees who will be able to make a valuable contribution to the smooth running of a setting as well as, most importantly, to the lives of the children and families with whom they work.'
She adds, 'At Norland College, where expectations and standards are extremely high, we would welcome students with this qualification on to our Early Childhood Studies degree and Norland Diploma course.'
Looking ahead to possible further development in qualifications, Ms Amies says, 'This is a college-based qualification. We haven't got a similar one for work-based learning but that is what we are looking for and that is what we hoped will be developed.'
Key Aspects of the BTEC CPLD
- The National Certificate suits part-time study by those taking it alongside A levels or people already working in the sector.
- The National Diploma is equivalent to three A levels. It carries UCAS points so is a route to higher education.
- Both the Certificate and Diploma require 800 hours of placements to cover three different settings and working with different 0-eight age groups.
- Awards carry skills for practice logs to ensure learners acquire necessary skills.
- External and teacher-led assessment ensure rigour.
- Awards include exams to test underpinning theory and knowledge.
- The Diploma is made up of a core of 840 guided learning hours and mandatory units plus 240 GLH specialist units devised in consultation with employer groups and organisations.
- The Diploma core units include Child Development, Play in Early Years Settings, and Child Protection.
- The Diploma mandatory units are Research Skills, Health Education and Social Services for Children and Their Families, and Food and Meal Times in the Early Years.
- The Diploma optional specialist units include Working with Children Under Three Years, Working with Children in Home-Based Care, Promoting Children's Development Outdoors, and Introduction to Working in a Montessori Setting.
Further information
http://www.edexcel.com/quals/btec-nat-cpld/Pages/default.aspx.
