Back to basics

An investigation into work-based learning has uncovered a lack of key skills or study among nursery staff considered qualified at certain NVQ levels. Mary Evans reports The scale of the challenge to transform childcare into a graduate-led profession is underlined by a survey showing that early years advanced apprentices are scoring the worst success rates across the entire work-based learning sector. In 2005-2006, more than two-thirds of them failed to gain their full framework award of NVQ 3, key skills and technical certificate, according to the report by the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI). The main stumbling block is...