Employers win battle for Level 2 qualification
Ross Watson
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
A new qualification to enter the children's workforce is under development, after concerns from childcare employers that standards had been set too high.
The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has confirmed it isdeveloping a Level 2 certificate for early years, social care andlearning development support services.
An A-level-equivalent qualification for these sectors is already beingprepared, under the title of the Level 3 Diploma for the Children andYoung People's Workforce. It is intended to replace all existing Level 3qualifications to become the only one valid for those entering theworkforce from next September.
But concerns had been raised in the early years sector that a Level 2qualification is needed as a stepping stone for inexperiencedemployees.
Michael Freeston, director of quality improvement for the Pre-schoolLearning Alliance, said: "CWDC received strong views from the childcaresector and we are pleased it has listened." He added that there must bea work-based assessment in the qualification to ensure students canapply skills to their chosen sector.
A CWDC spokeswoman said: "Employers have said they need practitionerswho are committed to continuing to improve their practice and who willaim to progress to Level 3. Therefore, CWDC supports the development ofa Level 2 certificate for delivery in England."
