The review of the national occupational standards is all about raising standards - both in terms of basic training and the potential for experienced practitioners to move onwards and up in their profession.
Like everything else, qualifications need to keep up with the times. The current standards and awards at levels 2 and 3 have been in use since 1998, and there have been many, wide-ranging changes in the sector since then.
The National Childcare Strategy has been unrolled with a huge growth in provision and an increasing need for well-trained and competent staff.
There has also been a dramatic move towards integrated services with more complex demands on the workforce. Local authorities and Primary Care Trusts are now placing greater emphasis on joined-up roles which require joined-up training and qualifications. This expansion of roles means practitioners are now looking for swifter career progression and the enhanced professional status and wages to go with it.
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