The Government’s response to the Nutbrown review, which included a recommendation to introduce a new early years teaching qualification to replace Early Years Professional Status, is expected shortly.
It is understood that a decision on whether to bring in a new early years qualification has not yet been made but is likely before the end of next month.
In her wide-ranging review of qualifications, published in June, Professor Cathy Nutbrown recommended introducing a new early years specialist route to qualified teacher status (QTS), specialising in birth to seven from September 2013, and that this route should eventually replace EYPS.
Professor Nutbrown recommended that EYPs could be fast-tracked on to the new teaching qualification.
However, Aspect say that such a move threatens to undermine the morale of 10,000 EYPs, and that of 2,200 that are currently training.
It is also not clear how any new qualification would be funded. Those currently training are on contracts that have been agreed for the next three years.
Claire Dent, (pictured), lead professional for the national Early Years Professionals committee for the Aspect group of Prospect, told Nursery World, ‘For EYPs to be told that the qualification they worked so hard for is not good enough and that they would need another qualification would affect their morale considerably.’
She also cited the recent research by Wolverhampton University that showed that ‘EYPS has had a really positive effect.’
‘The Nutbrown review is very positive about EYPS, except on this issue. If the Government do insist on the new qualification it will put off some graduates from going into early years. It will also encourage people to leave the sector and go and be a qualified teacher in a school. I can’t see the rationale if a new early years teaching qualification in early years settings is not linked to pay and conditions for teachers.’
Delegates from the Aspect group of Prospect told the DfE that EYP status has created robust arrangements for curriculum leadership throughout the sector that have been widely welcomed and are supported by professional research.
Rosie Bloomfield, Aspect national committee chair, said it was important to continue to raise the status of the profession, ‘but not by requiring leadership solely delivered by teachers.’
‘We should focus on what we already have, a well-trained, motivated workforce only too willing and able to deliver excellence for children,' she said.
‘Why waste time and resources inventing a new process when the outcome for children is already robust, as proven by hard evidence, and the case for such a new and expensive proposition is so thin?’
Ms Bloomfield said EYPs would welcome the opportunity to work with qualified teachers as equally valued professionals, helping to provide the right care and education for children from birth through to 18, but as equals, not as subordinates.
