More apprenticeship answers needed

City & Guilds congratulates the Early Years Trailblazer Group on the development of their draft Level 3 Early Years Educator standard. If approved, it is destined to replace the standard that was approved in November 2014.

After a long period of uncertainty the release of the draft standard follows earlier confirmation from the Department for Education that during the first months of 2017 they have also received other proposals for the development of standards in relation to:

• Early Years Lead Practitioner
• Early Years Senior Practitioner roles
• Level 2 Early Intervention and Family Support Assistant Practitioner
• Level 3 Early Intervention and Family Support Practitioner July-September 2017
• Level 4 Early Intervention and Family Support Advanced Professional/Practitioner
• Level 5 Early Intervention and Family Support Supervisor/Leader
• Level 6 Early Intervention and Family Support Supervisory Team Manager

With the exception of some finer detail, the new Level 3 early years standard mirrors the requirements of the full and relevant Early Years Educator (Level 3) qualification criteria that, in response to the findings and recommendations from the Nutbrown’s Review 2012, was published by the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) in July 2013.  

Similar to its predecessor, the new draft standard refers to a number of requirements that an apprentice must complete as pre-requisites before progressing to end point assessment.  Listed under ‘Qualifications’ these include:

• Completion of a Level 3 EYE qualification
• Attainment of a recognised Maths, English and/or ICT qualification at Level 2, including Functional Skills
• Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate
• Full 12hour Paediatric First Aid certificate
• Award in ICT in the Early Years

The language and terminology is important here. 

Our own research suggests that within the sector there is an appetite for an alternative to ICT Functional Skills.  It is interesting that the proposed draft standard identifies the need for apprentices to ‘be able to facilitate good practice in the use of ICT in early years’.  The on-programme ‘qualifications’ include reference to both ICT functional skills and an award in ICT in the Early Years.  Does this mean that the apprentice will need to attain both of these or will they and/or their employer be able to choose which ‘qualification’ is most appropriate for their needs?    

In relation to the award in ICT in the Early Years – to attain this will the apprentice have to complete a regulated qualification or will endorsed learning be sufficient?  If a regulated qualification is expected will specifications and additional guidance be made available so that apprentices, employers and providers can make informed choices about which qualification or learning they complete?

Similar questions could be posed regarding the expectation for food hygiene – how will the apprentice/employer/provider make informed choices about how to meet this expectation?

We anticipate that the apprentice will complete a paediatric first aid certificate that meets the regulatory requirements detailed in Annex A of the new Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework April 2017, in compliance with item 3.25 of that document and that therefore a regulated qualification is not mandatory.  

All of the above questions may be addressed in the assessment plan for the proposed draft standard and so in the absence of this it is difficult for us to formulate a fully informed view at this time.  However, we are pleased to see that new trailblazer group are beginning to make progress in the development of the new standards as this alone offers the sector the opportunity for some much needed continuity and consistency.  We look forward to learning about the outcome of the consultation and in time the opportunity to review the associated assessment plan. 

City and Guilds is an awarding body which works with a variety of trailblazer groups in different industries. suzi.gray@cityandguilds.com

See our story: Level 3 apprenticeship consultation is 'flawed'