Guide to EYE: part 3 - New courses from Pearson examined

From September, thousands of students of Early Years Educator (EYE) studies in England will follow courses designed by Pearson. It bought the UK's largest awarding body, Edexcel, in 2005 and also works with 800 centres delivering work-based EYE assessments across the UK. Its college-based EYE qualifications have up to 13 core units, while the work-based route has nine. As with many other EYE qualifications, students aged 16 and older will be able to follow college-based routes or study while already working.

College-based routes

The number of core units in Pearson's college-based qualifications varies depending on the size of the course (see box). Each responds to criteria set by the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL), without which awarding bodies cannot receive EYE accreditation. All five of Pearson's college-based courses, which include subsidiary award, national award, subsidiary certificate, national certificate and national diploma level, offer UCAS points. Pearson does not set a time limit for the courses, but expects students to complete the national certificate over two years part time, and the diploma over two years full time. Each core unit has Level 3 standards.

Pearson also consulted with employers and professional bodies to ensure core teaching met sector expectations. Pearson BTEC business manager Ria Bhatta says including a 'play and learning' unit in the college-based qualifications came as a direct result of these meetings.

Ms Bhatta says the core units are designed to give learners solid knowledge as well as practical training. The first college-based unit, 'child development', is the only one to be assessed externally, through a written exam set and marked by Pearson. The one hour and 45 minute-long paper will be assessed in the same way as A levels with the grade boundaries varying year on year. Students have the option of sitting it in January or June.

College students will also spend time in settings getting hands-on training. They are required to undertake a minimum of 750 hours' work experience in different settings with different age groups. They also have to record and reflect on their skills in a practical evidence portfolio.

'There is a substantial requirement for them to have a lot of knowledge and understanding, but that's to underpin their substantial placement requirements,' says Ms Bhatta. 'The colleges like the fact we offer different exit points for learners depending on their progression needs, and that there's a solid emphasis on child development and play.'

Work-based routes

Unlike college-based routes, Pearson's work-based route does not offer UCAS points and all units are at Level 3. The majority of core units are assessed through observations at the student's workplace through the submission of a portfolio of work. But two of the nine mandatory units are assessed through learning centre-devised assessment, such as producing a poster, doing a presentation, or a walk-and-talk with an assessor. Pearson health and social care and childcare sector manager Cath Evans says this is intended to help meet learners' different needs. 'For example, for the health and safety (module), they could walk around the establishment pointing out hazards and how they would overcome them,' she explains.

Assessors must meet assessment principles that have been developed together by EYE awarding bodies. These stipulate, for example, that assessors must be 'occupationally competent', which Ms Evans says verifiers can demonstrate by providing evidence that they are continuing their learning and professional development. Assessments for both collegeand work-based courses are then checked by an external standards verifier, who could be a nursery manager or someone from the local college.

Pearson does not require work-based students to spend any time studying in college. However, Ms Evans anticipates students may undertake knowledge-based core units in college. The qualification does not include a placement requirement beyond where the student is already working. 'For work-based learning, they are working and earning and being assessed on the job they're doing,' says Ms Evans. Pearson expects students to complete the course in 12 months, but learners are able to take longer.

Course delivery

Brockenhurst College is one centre that will offer the Pearson BTEC EYE qualifications. Head of early years, health and social care Lisa Bell highlights core units two, nine and 12 as being particularly important for students. 'Practitioners need to know how to provide a safe and stimulating environment,' she says. 'If they get this right then support for other areas such as personal, social and emotional development, children's speech, communication and language and health and safety should happen naturally and be part of everything they do, along with safeguarding as an overarching approach.'

Ms Bell says Brockenhurst is planning to deliver the courses with a global angle, by bringing an international globalisation teacher into the team from September. 'We will look at international perspectives, world events and approaches to children's play learning and development across the globe,' she says.

Solihull College head of school for early years Helen Perkins has reservations about the exam included in Pearson's awards. 'An exam tests what you can remember on the day; it's not necessarily a representation of what that person knows or how they behave with the children in the workplace,' she says. 'It will disadvantage some people and will put people off - a lot of people have used BTEC qualifications because there are no exams.'

BREAKDOWN OF UNITS

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Children's Play, Learning and Development (EYE) (VRQ), college-based, and Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Children's Play, Learning and Development (EYE) (VRQ), college-based, can both be found at www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/BTEC%20Nationals%20from%202012/978144 6910375_Pearson_BTEC_L3_Nat_CPLD_Spec_Upd_130214%20(1).pdf.

Core units for both:

1. Child Development
2. Play and Learning
3. Meeting Children's Physical Development, Physical Care and Health Needs
4. Health and Safety in Early Years Settings
5. Working with Parents and Others in Early Years
6. Supporting Children's Speech, Communication and Language
7. Supporting Children's Personal, Social and Emotional Development
8. Safeguarding in Early Years
9. Observation, Assessment and Planning
10. Supporting Children's Literacy and Numeracy Development
11. Reflective Practice
12. The Early Years Foundation Stage
13. Research Skills (not included in the certificate)

1. Child Development
2. Play and Learning
3. Meeting Children's Physical Development, Physical Care and Health
Needs
4. Health and Safety in Early Years Settings
5. Working with Parents and Others in Early Years
6. Supporting Children's Speech, Communication and Language
7. Supporting Children's Personal, Social and Emotional Development
8. Safeguarding in Early Years
9. Observation, Assessment and Planning
10. Supporting Children's Literacy and Numeracy Development
11. Reflective Practice
12. The Early Years Foundation Stage
13. Research Skills (please note - this unit is only included in the
diploma, and not the certificate).
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