The Children's Workforce Development Council last week named the firstorganisations to develop the training for early years professionalstatus.
The council is currently consulting on standards for the new role, whichwill be equivalent to qualified teacher status.
The first early years professionals should be accredited in just eightmonths' time.
Thirteen organisations have been selected to pilot training andassessment from September 2006 to January 2007.
"This is an exciting development for the sector and a positive step increating a world-class workforce," said the council's chief executiveJane Haywood. "We look forward to seeing the first candidatesaccredited."
The Government wants all children's centres to be led by an early yearsprofessional by 2010. There should be one in every full day care settingby 2015. The consultation on the early years professional standards willfinish at the end of this month.
In June the council will publish full details of different ways toachieve the status plus information about financial support forcandidates. It will also publish details of how other training providerscan get involved.
"The first organisations have been selected for their ability to reachthe right people and to ensure regional and national coverage," said acouncil spokeswoman. She said the council would meet with theorganisations in coming weeks to decide how the training will bedelivered.
The council will publish more information for those interested in doingthe courses soon. But the organisations will work together in differentpartnerships, with the National Day Nurseries Association and OpenUniversity taking the lead at a national level. For example, the Councilfor Awards in Children's Care and Education will team up with MiddlesexUniversity to run a pilot scheme.
The new role has been welcomed but there is concern that some childcareworkers may find it harder to access the training. Liz Bayram, chiefexecutive of the National Childminding Association, said herorganisation would want to discuss how childminders could achieve thestatus in the future.
- www.cwdcouncil.org.uk.
