EYP Update: Pioneering new pathways
Pilot programmes for new routes to achieving Early Years Professional Status are now well underway. While CWDC proposed two broad models for pilots, a number of different approaches have been approved.
More settings like this are improving quality through EYPS
Pilots are based on the original two routes that CWDC proposed:
- Pilot 1: A three-year level 3 to EYPS undergraduate work-based route for experienced level 3 practitioners. It was expected that this would include small cohorts of experienced work-based candidates, who were already undertaking a foundation degree, who would go on to complete a full degree and EYPS.
- Pilot 2: A four-year level 3 to EYPS undergraduate route for new entrants in the early years workforce. This was designed to enable small cohorts of Early Childhood Studies degree students entering their second or third year in September 2008 to undertake additional training to achieve EYPS in addition to their degree.
CWDC's Pauline Jones says, 'All programmes are progressing to plan and milestones have been met on schedule. Each group of pilot providers has been brought together to discuss progress and key issues to do with any additional pathway development.'
At Manchester Metropolitan University, the Early Childhood Studies degree has been extended to four years, with extensive placement time built in to support candidates' leadership and practice skills.
Lynne Clarke, EYPS programme leader, says, 'We are now six months into our two year-pilot, with a group of seven very enthusiastic students who began their third year of the course last September. All have level 3 qualifications and experience of working in settings.
'The pilot includes three months of part-time placement working with the birth-to-three age range and further placement experience in the last academic year. By graduation they will be ready for a setting visit to provide a summative assessment to achieve EYPS.'
