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Employers fear apprenticeship rules will force out thousands of early years students

Thousands of early years students could drop out of the sector if entry plans for apprenticeships go ahead, nursery employers have warned.

In an attempt to raise the standards of the early years workforce, ministers intend to make GCSE English and Maths at Grade C an entry requirement for starting an early years apprenticeship at Level 3.

But sector representatives are ‘deeply concerned’ that rather than raising standards it could lead to a mass exodus of students and fewer staff qualified at Level 3, forcing settings to take on more Level 2 staff.

Earlier this year, the DfE confirmed that from 1 August 2014 students receiving Government funding to undertake the Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification will require GCSE English and maths at grade C or above on entry. Functional skills will not be accepted as equivalent to GCSEs.

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