Protests over short notice for new level 3 diploma
Representatives from colleges around the country reacted with shock to the news that they will have to offer the new Level 3 qualification by September 2010.
The new award, with the working title the Level 3 Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma, is intended to become the only 'full and relevant' qualification for early years workers in England.
Speaking at the forum held by awarding body CACHE, its Qualifications and Credit Framework programme manager Gill Barnes revealed that the Children's Workforce Development Council will not be releasing the content until December 2009, giving colleges little time to gear up to teach or market it.
'The thinking is flawed, but we have to make the best of it,' Ms Barnes said. 'We know from our involvement in the working group what the size and assessment strategy of the award is, and we are communicating with our customers along the way.'
Ms Barnes also discussed the implications of the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) which will be implemented in September 2010, and its accompanying Foundation Learning Tier (FLT).
Ms Barnes said, 'While QCA is keen to get as many entry-level qualifications as possible on to the FLT, the future of Level 2 itself is in doubt. It may become a subset of the new Level 3.'
Forum delegates said they would be prepared to lobby to keep Level 2 on the QCF. One said, 'Essentially the Government is now saying that an early years worker needs to be fully qualified before they work - but how do they get the experience to do that?'
Another delegate acknowledged the benefits of 'the grand vision' but said, 'The practicalities of how we are going to get there are not clear. I am overwhelmed with the message I have got to now take back to my college.'
CACHE will be holding a follow-up forum in Birmingham.
Further information www.cache.org.uk
