The draft standards, which have been developed by NCSL and Pen Green Early Years Leadership and Research Base, set out the key areas of responsibility for centre leaders and the knowledge, professional qualities and skills needed to fulfil them.
They will be used by NCSL to assess participants undertaking its National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL) and by local authorities, governing bodies and children's centre management committees to inform job descriptions, person specifications and performance management.
Maggie Farrar, director of Every Child Matters and Standards at NCSL, said, 'These standards represent a critical next- step in giving the early years sector the robust qualification and skills framework it deserves. We are keen to involve as many people as possible in this consultation - leaders of children's centres, local authorities, unions, professional associations, governors, management committee members, and others from the public and private sectors - to ensure the standards properly reflect the full range and complexity of the job of children's centre leader.'
Leo Chivers, NPQICL programme leader for the Eastern Leadership Centre, said, 'The idea of having national standards for children's centre leaders is a great step forward in strengthening the career pathways for the children's workforce. But this must be backed up with a good support system from local authorities, so that children's centre leaders don't find themselves out on a limb.'
NCSL and Pen Green worked closely with leaders of children's centres and representatives from the health and social care sectors to develop the draft standards. The initial consultation involved more than 200 children's centre leaders and local authority officers.
The National Standards for Leaders of Children's Centres consultation, which ends on 6 November, can be downloaded at www.ncsl.org.uk. The final standards drawing on consultation feedback will be presented to ministers in December 2006 for endorsement in 2007.
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