Revised standards for early years professionals unveiled
Janaki Mahadevan
Monday, January 16, 2012
Graduate-level early years professionals will be required to meet a new set of standards that are more closely linked with standards in health and social care professions, from September.
The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has launched a 10-week consultation on the revised standards, which will be implemented by training providers.
There are currently 39 standards covering six areas, including communicating and working with families, and relationships with children.
The consultation sets out proposals to reduce the number of standards and make them fit more closely with standards in social care and health services to improve joint working.
Judith Thompson, assistant director of early years at CWDC, said: "The main aims of the review are to streamline the standards where possible, link them to other professional standards, test how they can support the concept of teaching in early years and help to spread leadership practice."
More than 8,500 staff across England have gained the status, which launched in 2007.
Staff working with young children are being encouraged to give their views on the standards by 23 March.
After CWDC ceases to be a non-departmental public body at the end of March, the early years professionals programme will be led by the new Teaching Agency.
