The new Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce was expected to replace all existing sector-related qualifications, which were due to become invalid on 31 December.
However, in the wake of the report, CWDC said it was reviewing the cut-off date for current qualifications and expects to make recommendations by 17 December.
This means that the validity of some current qualifications could be extended into 2011.
The report from the assessments regulator concludes that the new Level 3 Diploma for the Chiildren and Young People's Workforce lacks opportunities for work experience and the chance to progress to further and higher education.
It recommends developing the diploma into a larger two-year qualification to allow younger, less practised students to gain more hands-on experience.
The Ofqual report found that the diploma did deliver 'occupational competence', but says the reduction in the number of qualifications supported by the CWDC did not allow the same level of flexibility in progression routes as was available previously.It says that legacy Level 3 qualifications may need to be extended beyond the December cut-off.
Chris Lawrence, (pictured), principal of the Chiltern College, said, 'The report has highlighted all of the concerns I have expressed, but this leaves colleges in a total muddle. We are all in absolute limbo about what is happening for qualifications in the future. We need an extension on existing qualifications so this can all be sorted out.'
She added, 'We're lobbying to get qualifications in line with what Ofqual are saying. How can I recommend these courses to students when Ofqual have reported this?
'My concern with this particular qualification is that it doesn't suit all learners' needs and there are no levels 4 and 5 to progress to. Currently, there is an opportunity to gain UCAS points.'
CWDC’s response to Ofqual’s report on the Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce
CWDC is pleased that Ofqual's report on the Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce finds that it is a valid qualification to confer occupational competence. At the request of government, acting in good faith with support from an expert group, CWDC collaborated with awarding organisations to develop the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) Level 3 Diploma, as well as the Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce.
CWDC is proud of these qualifications, their potential to bring clarity and simplicity, to confer real occupational competence and to meet the needs of employers as well as enabling learners to move across the children's workforce without having to repeat learning. Many training providers have told us they strongly welcome the new qualification and employers are welcoming the clarity it is bringing.
CWDC is however surprised and disappointed that all the parties involved in the qualification's development did not share our vision, nor have a deep shared understanding of the implications of an outcomes-based credit framework.
CWDC believe that an emphasis on the number of hours served rather than outcomes achieved will not guarantee occupational competency. We continue to believe that learning provision should be tailored to the different needs of learners.
CWDC will now consider if and how it can extend support for legacy Level 3 provision without jeopardising the QCF benefits it was seeking to realise.
CWDC will continue to support awarding organisations to meet the needs of full time college-based learners and to ensure we get the best outcome for our employers.
