Early years - Children's Workforce Qualifications and Training Guide

Since September 2015, the number of registered childminders has dropped by 8,200 - 17 per cent - and continues to fall. The Early Years Alliance is working with the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted to explore ways to reduce workload pressures.

The long-awaited Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship launched in April. "This will be a major pathway to the qualifications available to those considering a career in the early years," says Michael Freeston, director of quality improvement at the Early Years Alliance. "The next step must be to develop a Level 2 Apprenticeship standard to create a pipeline which supports unqualified childcare staff to progress." City & Guilds will deliver the End Point Assessment Service for the Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship standard to add to its Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Practitioners (Early Years Educator) qualification.