New pedagogue role is proposed
Everyone working with children in Scotland should have shared, universal training, according to a report that argues for a new profession, the Scottish pedagogue.
Working it out: developing the children's sector workforce, by Children in Scotland, calls for the development of a new graduate-level qualification, based on a broad understanding of children and the relationships to others and their community.
In European countries the term 'pedagogy' has a wider meaning, 'encompassing not only children's educational needs but their social and emotional development', the report said. In Denmark pedagogues work with people of all ages in education, social services and health, and Sweden has a single framework for those working with children from the age of 18 months to 18.
The report said that reforming the children's workforce is vital for it to operate in a unified way with the child at the centre.
'The Scottish pedagogue would not replace specialist education, but enable common modules to be added to initial education across professions. It would also offer a qualification for less well-qualified and undervalued groups within the children's sector workforce, from the early years through to youth and community groups.'
Children in Scotland chief executive Bronwen Cohen told Nursery World that the model would 'upskill' the early years workforce. 'If you're looking at workforce reform, a lot of different groups need more of a career structure. The Scottish pedagogue would help people move between jobs.'
Scottish pedagogues and assistant pedagogues would work in provision in early years services, school-age childcare, residential childcare, play and youth services, family daycare, foster care, family support services, and in the classroom where pedagogues would work as teaching assistants.
In the report, Ms Cohen wrote, 'The provision could be significantly improved by having a consistently well-qualified workforce. These are the services seen as having a major contribution in delivering government aspirations for often very disadvantaged groups of children. Enhancing their contribution could do more to "get it right for every child" than any number of government strategies.'
Further information:
'Working it out: developing the children's sector workforce' costs £10.99 (£16.99 for non-members) from www.childreninscotland.org.uk/publications
Developing the workforce
A proposed Scottish pedagogue model for developing key areas of the children's sector workforce:
- Adopt Scottish pedagogy model as basis for workforce reform
- Develop a new group of pedagogues trained at graduate or equivalent level and assistants trained to Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework's level seven
- Pedagogues and assistants would work in all services for children and young people from birth to 18, including pre-school services, school-age childcare, play, youth services, family support and with teachers in schools
- All those working with children, including teachers, health and social workers, to receive common grounding in Scottish pedagogical theory and practice.
