Cache Diploma in Childcare and Education does it have value?

Cache Diploma in Childcare and Education does it have value?

by: Anna_bella21 - 01-04-08 12:53

Hello, I am a final year student on the Cache Diploma in Childcare and Educaton or the DEC level 3!

What really annnoys me, is that all the nursery nurse jobs that are advertised want NVQ 3, BTEC or NEBB! The DCE is not mentioned at all!

The NEBB was brillant and those that have got it are great practitioners. The DCE is the new version of NEBB! Yet it is not asked for in the adverts!!

We do obsevations, curriculum plans and carry out activities with the childern. We learn all about the theorists and all the milestones of child development from 0-16 now! I have had four different placements in different settings with different age ranges from 0-16 yrs.

I feel that the DCE is not seen in the same way.

To go on this course you have to have five GCSE's A-C including Maths and English!  I feel that the DCE should be seen in a better light and be asked for in job adverts.

by: Maestro

Advertising space is expensive so people usually put either "equivalent" or the most popular ones. Your qualification is fine. Most people put NVQ L3 or equivalent as that is becoming (very sadly) the main qualification!

You could always pick the phone up anyway and tell them your qualification. I would not ask for it in an advert as advertising is expensive and normally needs to be run for a couple of weeks to be effective. Pretty certain no one will see it in a bad light, apart from the NVQ that one just sucks.

by: timmylums

I understand your concerns but can anyone tell me if a BAed (hons) has any value as I have spent 3 years doing my degree in Early years education including teaching practice and early years placements. I am currently halfway through the full time pathway of the EYPS. Having spent the last 6 months on a placement in my local childrens centre I applied for a role of early years practitioner(maternity cover) , after an excellent application I was shortlisted,  told I did an excellent interview but was not offered the job as  I am far too qualified but lack experience. The centre manager said that she feared I would not stay as I am so highly qualified and the nursery manager said that she did not think that I would like  the job.  I feel that I have wasted my time and should have settled for an NVQ instead, anyone else agree. ( Oh yes and during my placement I have supported other staff in their studies, given advice and training on the EYFS, and observing young children but still cannot be a practitioner for 9 months because I have a degree)     

by: Maestro

The degree is becoming the new NVQ, just wait.

by: Happy1

Timmylums i feel the sameGaining my degree has been a curse.  An expensive curse, that comes with a pretty bit of paper that says congratulations and welcome to unemployment.I have lost count now of how many times i have been told i am over qualified for the position. My personal favourite is when they decide for you that you would not be happy just being a nursery nurse/room leader/ senior nursery nurse because you have a degree.  I had to change career paths in the end. I was offered a job in administration because i had a degree; it did not matter to them that it was in. I hated every second of the three years i worked there.  I had spent five years working my butt off through college and university training to work in the early years and there i was processing mortgage applications.So i started the whole soul destroying process again. The first setting i went to was a nightmare and i have posted about it on this forum. The second setting i went to i sailed through the interview and the practical. The manager called me and started the degree speech and something in side me just snapped.  I cringe now when i think about it but i ranted/ poured my heart out to this poor woman for half an hour or more.  I was offered the job when she finally got a word in.