Nursery World - Qualifications row for Montessori and Steiner over level 3 Diploma goes on

The row over the future of Montessori and Steiner qualifications remains unresolved following a meeting between CWDC and Department for Education officials and representatives from awarding bodies and training providers.

In December the CWDC extended the deadline for offering some early years and childcare qualifications until January 2012, but Montessori and Steiner organisations are still waiting for a decision on theirs (News, 16 December 2010).

A second follow-up meeting is to take place in May, to take into account the findings of the EYFS review and the Wolf review into vocational qualifications, which was published last week.

Steiner and Montessori awarding bodies are seeking continued recognition for their level 4 qualifications and exemption from the new CWDC level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce.

They argue that the loss of recognition for Montessori and Steiner training threatens the diversity of early years provision in England and undermines the Government's commitment to providing free nursery places for threeand-four year-olds.

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