by: pinkdebbie - 27-07-08 15:41
I am trying to research about qualifications. I have a member of staff who has a degree in History, who is half way throigh her Montessori training, with 3 years experienced. A degree is level 6 however, it has nothing to do with early years. Can she be classed as qualified, please help?
by: hatthar
Hi Pink Debbie
I know it is frustrating but, unless someone has completed an Early Years qualification they are not qualified.
I would think the best two options for this person to consider would be either completing the Montessori qualification already started or consider doing the Early Years Professional Status training - which she should be able to do as she already holds a degree. The degree in History does not mean anything in it's own right, within the early years field, except allow them to enter the Early Years Professional Status training.
If this person perviously chose to undertake the Montessori qualification because she found this area interesteding, I would suggest this would be a good qualification to complete. As all the hard work she put in to the part of the course she completed is worthless unless she finishes the qualification. My suggestion would be finsh this Montessori qualification first, then consider whether to go on and do the Early Years Professional Status training at a later date.
Hattyhar :-)
by: pinkdebbie
Thanks for your response, she is still doing her Montessori training and will continue to until completion, I was just wondering about her other degree. We also have a member of staff who has a PGCE, in teaching adults- I guess that does not count either?
RE: RE: Degree not in early years- are they qualified? - 29-07-08 19:07by: hatthar
Your right, unfortunately because her PGCE is in Adult Education it does not count. If it had been in Early Years Teaching ages 3-7 years, it would have been great, but Adult Education does not count for working in Early Years.
For this person, probably the best thing to consider would be doing the Early Years Professional Status Training. I think there maybe some funding available for this at the moment, but I'm not completely sure.
Good luck with everything.
RE: RE: Degree not in early years- are they qualified? - 28-08-08 17:17by: busybee
DEAR PINK DEBBIE. THE PERSON WITH PGCE IN ADULT ED, IF HER DEGREE IS IN A SUITABLE SUBJECT CAN DO A PGCE IN EARLY YEARS TEACHING AND GAIN Q. T, S . SAE COULD THEN OPERATE IN A TRAINING CAPACITY TO STAFF AND PARENTS IN THE SETTING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT IS HARD TO FUND AND PAY AND THEREFORE RETAIN SUCH WELL QUALIFIED STAFF. GOOD LUCK , FROM BUSY BEE
by: timmylums
Hi Hatthar
just reading your entries, you sound very knowledgable about qualifications. I have a BAed (hons) in advanced study of early years education and am in my final few weeks of EYPS, I consider myself to be qualified already although some say not until I get my EYPs, what do you think. Can I manage my own nursery based on my degree. I know someone who has a level 3 and has done 1 year of a degree and is now claiming to have a level 4 is this the same as doing an NVQ level 4? Hope you don't mind me asking these daft questions!
REFIED ENOALI: RE: Degree not in early years- are they qualified? - 28-08-08 14:35by: busybee
FIRST YEAR OF UNI SUCESFULLY COMPLETED EQUATES TO LEVEL 4 . IT HAS PARITY WITH LEVEL 4 NVQ BUT NVQ IS MORE VOCATIONALLY BASED, AS IS FIRST YEAR OF FOUNDATION DEGREE. YOU ARE QUALIFIED ENOUGH TO RUN URSERY BUTEYPS W ILL GIVEYOU EDGE AND FOCUS FOR LEADING EXCELLENT NURSERY PRACTICE. MANAGING NURSERY REQUIRESCAL BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE COMBINED AS WELL . GOOD LUCK, BUSY BEE
by: hatthar
Hi
Thank you for saying I sound like I am knowledgeable in this area, I guess I do some a fair amount, but I'm sure there are many others who know just as much.
Deciding who is classed as "qualified" is a difficult one because so many courses cover different ages and areas. However I would feel that your BAed (hons) in Advanced Study of Early Years Education, would qualify you in the age ranges that it covers, which I guess would be 3-7 years??
Therefore I would say that you would not be qualified to work in say, a Baby Unit or a Toddler Room as your qualification has not covered babies and children during those stages of development. I think the only people who can really say what qualifications are required in order to manage a nursery would be Ofsted.
As for your other question, there are some part time degrees that provide qualifications at each stage of the course that has been completed, which may mean that someone may hold a Level 4 after completing the first year of a degree. However, if the degree that this person is undertaking does not particularly state that a Level 4 is achieved after completing the first year, then the person has probably not done so. Personally I have only heard of Part Time Degrees that give achieved qualifications along the way, but I guess it is possible that Full Time Degree may do this also. If the person has achieved a Level 4 they should have a certificate to prove this.
I hope this is helpful, much of this is really only my opinion, but I do hope it has helped.
:-)
by: Millie
Hi timmylums
I know many people who run day nurseries and pre-schools on BA Hons. The point is to ensure that you employ staff who have undertaken level 3 qualifications and exsperienced in working with babies to work in your baby rooms.
I also know many people who run these settings just with a level 3 qualification.
The point being its fantastic that you are working towards a qualification, but until you have your certificate in your hand you will not be considered as qualified in the wsubject you have undertaken! I have just completed my Foundation Degree, but can not be employed with this title until my degree is verified by the awarding body, which means a certificate - so I am waiting and waiting and waiting for this to happen. I have been told this will not be through until January now. So in my mind I am qualified, but until I have that piece of paper in my hand others will think I am not. So heres to waiting patiently.
Good luck with yours.
by: Millie
OOPS spelling!! - husband is nagging for me to help him put up a mirror - so did not check spelling until now - so who knows if I will get my degree - not on the basis of this type of spelling I will not, Heee Hee!
by: busybee
YOUR MEMBER OF STAFF CAN FINISH MONTESSORI TO COMPLETION, DO EYPS OR GET QUALIFIED TEACH PGCE IN FOUNDATION STAGE TO GET QUSY BUSTALIFIED TEACHER STATUS. ALL THE BEST , BUSY BEE
by: busybee
SORRY PINKDEBBIE, LAST E MAIL WAS GARBLED. I MEANT THAT SHE COULD DO A PGCE AFTER THE MONTESSORI TO GET QUALIFIED TEACHER STATUS , HER HISTORY DEGREE COULD BE THE BASIS FOR SPECIALISM IN THAT CURRICULUM AREA PLUS EYPS HAS ROUTE FOR CHOICE IN CURRICULLUM DEVELOPMENT. THAT WAY SHE CAN UTILISE HER DEGREE IN THE SETTING TO HUGE ADVANTAGE. BUT UNTIL THE MONTESSORI COMPLETE SHE IS NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE SECTOR . KIND REGARDS, BUSY BEE
