Concerns have been raised that a new diploma for the children's workforce could drive down the standard of early years recruits.
The Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce willreplace existing qualifications from next September. But colleges havelodged concerns with awarding body Cache that the Universities andColleges Admissions Service will not confirm whether the diplomaqualifies candidates for university until they have completed the coursein 2011.
Cache is now asking the Children's Workforce Development Council, whichis developing the diploma, for existing diplomas to run until 2011 soyoung people are not discouraged from getting a childcarequalification.
Richard Dorrance, Cache chief executive, said: "There is a risk thatmore able candidates will opt to take A-levels and not be available foremployment in 2012."
