EYFS rules for playworkers threatens holiday provision

Holiday club providers say that it is unrealistic for them to be able to comply with the EYFS requirements that 50 per cent of staff should hold a level two or three qualification, because the workforce relies heavily on students who work only during their holidays and who are often pursuing alternative careers.

Stephen Studd, chief executive of SkillsActive, which provides advice and guidance to the play sector on training and education, said, 'While we are certainly in favour of a well-qualified play industry, we do support the play schemes in their belief that expecting a student taking on a holiday job to become as qualified as someone who works there year-round is unreasonable.

'Unfortunately, it is parents and families who are going to lose out, as the limited number of spaces mean that many have to either take extra time off work or find a more costly childcare alternative over Easter.'

A SkillsActive survey of 49 holiday club providers found the qualification requirements were having a significant impact on their provision. SkillsActive has recommended that the DCSF should consult on whether holiday club providers should be subject to the EYFS.

Lee Partner, director of KOOSA Kids, which runs eight holiday clubs on school sites around Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, said, 'This is potentially a major issue. The sector would collapse if we were unable to rely on the student workforce. It costs between £1,500 and £2,000 to put someone through a level 2 or 3 qualification and then they might only work for you for 50 days. The Government has not acknowledged that the holiday club workforce tends to be transient and casual.

'A lot of clubs are choosing not to run or to restrict age ranges so that they do not have to meet the EYFS requirements. I hope that they look at this issue when the EYFS is reviewed later this year.'

Shelley Newstead, managing director of Common Threads, a play training organisation, said, 'The potential for this to happen was highlighted as part of a consultation several months before the EYFS was introduced. It seems disingenuous for SkillsActive to be picking up this issue now.

'Only last April, SkillsActive issued guidance on the EYFS for holiday and after-school club providers in which it advised settings that they could choose to only open for 14 days, close their play schemes down or restrict the number of children to match their available staff. Now there seems to have been a change of tack.'

A spokesperson from the DCSF said, 'It is right that staff are required to hold relevant qualifications and there has been no evidence that this has led to any significant loss of holiday play scheme places over the past 18 months. Local authorities have a duty to ensure there is sufficient provision available to parents, and parents can be assured that they will continue to fulfil this duty.'