Early years apprentice framework adds GCSE requirements

Skills for Care said interim entry requirements for the new early years advanced apprenticeship for the children and young people’s workforce will take effect on 1 September.

The revised programme, which replaces the early learning and childcare pathway, is part of an interim framework put in place until new standards for early years apprentices are approved by government.

The Early Years Trailblazer Group, made up of early years employers, has drawn up new entry standards, expected to be introduced early next year, which say students should be assessed on their maths and English capabilities at the end of their apprenticeship, rather than at the beginning, enabling them to study GCSEs alongside their vocational training.

In June, the group warned that plans to make GCSEs an entry requirement for early years apprenticeships would reduce the proportion of Level 3-qualified staff working with young children.

However, the new entry requirements follow the introduction of similar standards for the standalone early years educator qualifications, which will become the new sector standard for progression into management from September.

Michael Freeston, director of quality improvement at the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said the increasing focus on the academic capabilities of applicants is a cause for concern.

He said: “At a time when the sector is struggling to recruit and retain a skilled workforce, it is concerning that potential childcare workers are likely to be excluded from the apprenticeship scheme.

“There are many potential candidates who are able to demonstrate the necessary skills and abilities to enable them to become excellent childcare practitioners, however they will need to overcome an additional barrier or obstacle to accessing suitable training.

“There is no reason why learners cannot improve their capability in maths and English skills as they work through the apprenticeship framework.”

Marc Ozholl, funding and apprenticeship specialist at education awarding body Cache, shares a similar concern.

He said: “We feel the introduction of the GCSE entry requirement for the early years educator advanced apprenticeship may lead to a significant reduction in the number of learners working towards entering the childcare workforce, at the very time the demand for suitably qualified childcarers is rising.

“Accepting the Level 2 functional skills as an equivalent to GCSEs would ensure that learners who relate better to non-academic study were still able to undertake the early years educator qualification or apprenticeship.

“We hope the government closely monitors the effect the introduction of the GCSE entry requirement has on the early years educator and apprenticeship take up, and acts quickly and decisively to implement an alternative approach should numbers fall significantly.”