The University of East Anglia (UEA) confirmed that the EYPS course would shut because it has not recruited enough students and is operating at a loss.
The university also said that running EYP training did not fit with its long-term priorities for the School of Education and Lifelong Learning, which are focused on teacher training and research.
The University and College Union (UCU), which represents academic staff at the university, warned that the closure could lead to staff being made redundant and could affect nursery provision and create a shortage of professionally trained nursery staff in in Norfolk.
UEA had shared £3.4m of East of England consortium funding over three years to provide fully-funded EYPS places with no tuition fees.
The union claims that the School of Education and Lifelong Learning had been forbidden to bid for additional funding that recently became available, which it says could have eliminated or reduced the funding shortfall.
Phil Page, the UCU union spokesperson at UEA, said, 'UCU is very disappointed to discover that despite the UEA share of a new regional contract and other business opportunities that have recently arisen, including over £1m in potential additional funding, the university is proposing to close early years provision at UEA.'
He added, 'We are asking that UEA put full effort into exploring alternatives rather than just taking the option of closing courses with consequent risk of staff redundancies.'
The union has written to the Dean of the Social Science Faculty and the Vice-Chancellor asking for a detailed explanation.
In a statement UEA said, 'In the current economic climate, it is important for the university to focus on activities that are viable and that embody the values and priorities outlined in our draft corporate plan for the next five years.
'Unfortunately, the EYPS course has not recruited enough students and is loss-making. In addition, while we recognise the importance of early years education, this course does not chime with the university's long-term priorities and ambitions.'
The university said that three members of staff were affected by the closure decision and that 29 EYP students who enrolled in January will finish their 12-month course in January 2013 at UEA.
UEA said, 'In terms of alternative provisions in the future, we have told the consortium that we are very happy to liaise with other HE providers in the area to ensure they will have excellent input.'
The Eastern Leadership Centre is the lead organisation for the East of England consortium, with partners University Campus Suffolk, the University of Hertfordshire and Pen Green Research Centre.
Emma Slaughter, service leader (EYPS) at ELC, told Nursery World that fully-funded places for EYP training would continue in Norfolk and that she did not envisage a drop in the number of applications.
Ms Slaughter confirmed that the number of fully-funded places for EYP training in the East of England region will double from September. There are currently 72 students on the EYPS programme.
Following UEA's decision to withdraw from EYP training, she said the other members of the consortium had agreed to step in to ensure that the programme and all four pathways would continue to be offered.
She said, 'We'll work collectively to ensure that there is EYPS provision in Norfolk.
'We're considering various options for venues, including using children's centres, local authority offices and other education providers.'
- The East of England region is recruiting now for places to start in September. The closing date for applications is 4 September.
- UCU has launched an online petition against the closure of EYPS at http://bit.ly/UEAearlyyears.
