Childcare workers hail EYPS as a career boost

The study, by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC), also revealed that 80 per cent of professionals believe EYPS had increased their confidence as a practitioner.

In addition, two-thirds felt they had greater credibility with colleagues as a result of gaining EYPS.

Thom Crabbe, national programme manager for early years at CWDC, said the survey underlined the value of a graduate-level programme in the sector.

"Increased confidence, skill and professionalism, together with the ability to lead practice, is clearly benefiting practitioners, their colleagues and their settings," he said. "This can only have a positive effect on the young children who develop and learn in their care."

Despite this, the survey also revealed that not all professionals in the early years sector actually know what EYPS is, while the general public know even less.

More than three-quarters of survey respondents said fellow professionals were uncertain of what EYPS meant and 86 per cent said people outside their workplace had little understanding of EYPS.

Meanwhile, CWDC has welcomed government plans to continue to fund the EYPS programme in the next financial year.

Judith Thompson, assistant director of early intervention and prevention at CWDC, said: "This is fantastic news which will further boost graduate leadership of the early years sector. There are over 6,000 Early Years Professionals (EYPs) already trained and the value they are bringing to the early years settings in which they work is now becoming evident through research.

"The government’s commitment to the EYPS programme and to attracting top graduates into the profession will ensure that the quality of provision will be raised in many more settings across England, improving outcomes for many more young children."

Aspect general secretary John Chowcat added: "With many EYPs working in a variety of early years settings and more than 4,000 in training and assessment, the decision to continue the programme is a welcome stabilising factor.
 
"EYPs are emerging from their pathways as highly skilled professionals with the potential to make a reality of the government’s strategy to raise the quality of early years settings across the sector and give every child the best possible start in life and education."

The CWDC is now working with the Department for Education to develop a tender for a new EYPS programme, which will take into account developments to be announced in the spring, including the review of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

The next intake for EYPS under the new arrangements is likely to be in January 2012.