To answer Angela Beecham's letter ('Why re-qualify?', 12 February), APEL qualifications will be running for five years to enable those who need a Level 3 qualification to attain it by using their wealth of prior leaning.
The qualification will continue to be recognised even if the courses stop running after the five years. But they will continue running if more people need the APEL qualification to do the work they do in order to fall in line with the national daycare standards.
There is no cut-off where those with the qualification will be 'not qualified' and have to 're-qualify'. Once you have your APEL you will be recognised as having a Level 3 qualification.
I would hate for the sector to lose skilled and experienced people without an NVQ Level 3 because they feel it is a waste of their time to do APEL as they believe it to be 'valid' for only three years.
Clare Smith
Slough, Berkshire
