Government urged to relax early years requirements to stem recruitment crisis
Joe Lepper
Friday, November 25, 2016
A requirement for early years staff to gain good GCSE grades before completing their training is causing a recruitment crisis in the sector and should be revised, according to the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA).
Currently, those wanting to complete a Level 3 early years educator (EYE) course need to have at least a grade C in both GCSE English and maths.
But in its response to a Department for Education consultation on qualifications for the early years workforce, NDNA says that "the requirement is by far the main reason for the sector's recruitment problems" as it is blocking potentially good candidates from coming forward.
NDNA wants "functional equivalent" tests, which show a good working knowledge of English and maths, to also be allowed as a requirement for completing the course.
NDNA director of quality and workforce development Stella Ziolkowski said: "Many nursery professionals are excellent, caring practitioners who love children and are extremely skilled at supporting children's social and emotional development without the need for GCSEs and this should not be a barrier for them.
"A tailored approach is necessary to make sure that anyone who works in a nursery has the qualifications they need for the job that they do or the job they aspire to, or the right pathway to get those qualifications."
Last year the government backtracked on plans to require all those enrolling in the EYE Level 3 to have A-C maths and English GCSEs. However, all candidates must ensure they have these grades by the time they complete their course.
In October, the Association of Early Learning Providers called for the GCSE requirements to be scrapped and replaced with functional equivalent tests.
NDNA also wants the EYE Level 3 course to be overhauled, so that it has a greater emphasis on supporting children with literacy and numeracy.
Ziolkowski added: "Qualifications should equip practitioners with the skills to be able to support children to develop. Content on supporting literacy and maths is not strong enough within these qualifications."
