Training: Local networks to help EYPs go further
Melanie Defries
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Practitioners who gain Early Years Professional Status are to be offered further development and training by local authorities, with funding provided by the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC), it was announced last week.
The funding will enable local authorities to devise a support packagefor EYPs in their area, mainly through setting up local networksoffering training.
ContinYou, the national learning charity, and Serco, the children'sservices provider, are working with the CWDC and local authorities tohelp them develop and deliver the project.
The EYP support package aims to: develop the lead practitioner role ofEYPs, helping them to improve the quality of settings and outcomes forchildren; facilitate EYPS working across settings to address qualityimprovement beyond their own setting; establish a professional identityfor EYPs; and ensure the impact of EYPS locally is communicatednationally.
CWDC chief executive Jane Haywood said, 'We hope that providing supportfor local networks will not only promote EYPS as the "gold standard" forthose in early years but also provide a way for EYPs to develop aprofessional identity and share with other practitioners ideas forraising the quality of practice.
'The support available to local authorities will be tailored to need. Aswell as funding to support the creation of a network and cover the costsof supply cover for EYPs, there will be telephone support and visitsfrom the ContinYou/Serco partnership.'
