Within its latest report, published last month, which sets out what it believes the challenges to be in meeting the 30 hours’ expansion, the charity warns in 20 months’ time, the full rollout of the 30 hours expansion is due, while it takes 18 months for learners to achieve the necessary Level 3 early years qualifications.
YMCA estimates that the workforce needs to grow by 13.2 per cent (45,000) by next September to accommodate the extended policy.
Earlier estimates, published by the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) in November, suggest 50,000 additional staff will be needed this year and again next year to maintain existing provision and provide the expanded entitlement.
YMCA says it sent a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Department for Education (DfE) asking about the number of learners currently undertaking Level 3, T-Level and undergraduate courses in early years, along with estimates for future years, but a response was not provided.
The charity also claims within its report that some apprenticeship and training providers have yet to remove the maths requirement for Level 3 early years course from their prospectuses and literature, despite the DfE announcing the change in October.
It says that ‘the removal of the maths requirement has come at a core time before providers require more staff to deliver the expanded funded hours. However, misinformation on qualification requirements risks putting prospective trainees off entering the sector.’
The YMCA wants training providers to adjust their literature with ‘urgency’ to remove the Level 2 maths requirement for Level 3 early years courses, as per the change in Government regulation.
Denise Hatton, chief executive of YMCA England & Wales, said, ‘To truly meet the needs of families, there must be an urgent concerted effort to address the impending recruitment and retention crisis. The current trajectory puts the sustainability of quality childcare at risk.’
