The National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (Children Now, 2-8 June) will only be available to managers from state-funded centres, a National Day Nurseries Association conference heard. The course is fully funded by the DfES, including travel costs.
Maggie Farrar, assistant director at the National College for School Leadership, which has developed the qualification in partnership with the Pen Green Leadership Development Centre in Corby, said the national rollout would start in September 2005 with 400 places available.
"The first priority will be current or aspirant leaders of DfES-designated children's centres and those operating in integrated early years settings from local authorities," she said.
Delegates also voiced their fears that the Government was being too prescriptive in planning for children's centres.
John Thorn, from Nottinghamshire County Council, said there had been "more central direction over children's centres than I have seen before", adding: "We would like to be more flexible. The desire of most local authorities to join things up is at loggerheads with direction from the centre."
A Children Now conference today (27 October) will look at the practicalities involved in joining up services through children's centres.
- Farrar is also looking for training providers across the country to tender to run the qualification training on behalf of the college. Contact npqicl@ncsl.org.uk.
