Nursery World - A degree to be recognised

By Di Chilvers, senior lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at Sheffield Hallam University Early Childhood Studies degrees are just that - three years of intensive study relating to children and childhood, which lead to a degree at Level 6. Students become expert practitioners in the area of educare from nought to eight years old. Some of our students have gone on to work as mentors with older children, or to support children with special educational needs in schools - as well as going on to further postgraduate study and teaching.

Students become expert practitioners in the area of educare from nought to eight years old. Some of our students have gone on to work as mentors with older children, or to support children with special educational needs in schools - as well as going on to further postgraduate study and teaching.

But what of the students who don't wish to delve into further study and want to work with children after completing their degree? These students are not nursery nurses - but have studied at a higher level.

There appears to be a huge gap between the level of qualification and salary of nursery nurses and that of a teacher. NVQ 4 is a step towards bridging this gap but students with a BA in Early Childhood Studies are at a higher level than this. They have nowhere to go in terms of job description/structure or salary level if they do not undertake further study. This is a waste of trained early years practitioners at a time when there are not enough staff to fulfil Government proposals for childcare and education.

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