NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION IN INTEGRATED CENTRE LEADERSHIP
The National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL) is the first national programme for leaders within multi-agency, early years settings. The programme forms part of a series of initiatives developed to support recommendations in the government Green Paper Every Child Matters. There are more than 3,000 integrated children's centres around the country with government plans to expand this to 3,500 by 2010. The qualification seeks to provide leaders/managers and emerging leaders/managers of integrated centres, with an opportunity to create an ethos of community partnership working by co-ordinating coherent and seamless high-quality services for children and families.
Course provider: The programme is being delivered through regional providers.
Entry qualifications: It is anticipated that applicants will hold a UK honours degree (2.2 or above) or an acceptable equivalent. It is also expected that applicants can provide evidence of academic capability and demonstrate they are able to manage the course demands. In particular circumstances, a lower-level qualification with appropriate experience may be considered, subject to the applicant being able to demonstrate 'graduateness'.
Duration: One year.
Methods of study: The course is designed to build on participants' experiences and take account of the situation and circumstances in which they work. It is through exploring these experiences that learning about leadership will be achieved, and participants will have the opportunity to relate theories about leadership to their own practice.
Course content: Participants have a choice of two routes through the NPQICL qualification: a study programme or research project. On the study route there are eight strands, four in each module: including clarifying values, principles and visions; developing an effective learning environment; exploring leadership styles and approaches; making things happen; developing professional practice and leading learning; managing change, innovation and development; building community and partnership; creating the future.
Career moves: The NCSL proposes that higher education institutions admit participants to a Master's programme with 33 per cent credit (60 points at M Level) under their accreditation of prior learning (APL) arrangements, provided that they hold an NPQICL certificate.
MASTERS DEGREES
Universities such as the University of Sheffield and University College London offer dstance learning for their MA courses, which span early childhood education and early childhood studies
MA IN INTEGRATED PROVISION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
The course is designed to attract participants from a wide range of early years disciplines, who work in - or with - children's centres, with the aim of creating a 'learning community' and promoting reflective practice.
Course provider: Offered at the Pen Green Centre and accredited by the University of Leicester.
Entry qualifications: Degree or qualification in teaching, social work, health work or equivalent experience. Alternative qualifications or experience considered.
Duration: Two years, nine months on a part-time basis.
Course content: Based on a practitioner research approach, with elements of the study carried out in your workplace.
Career moves: Progress to be children's centres leaders, hold strategic positions within local authorities or be senior lecturers in early years at universities.
CASE STUDY: CHILDREN'S CENTRE MANAGER: JUNE MARKHAM
June Markham, who has spent her career as a qualified teacher working in primary schools, took over the management of Cherry Orchard Children's Centre in Birmingham, when Cherry Orchard Primary School agreed to run it back in 2006. She has managed the whole development of the centre from the very beginning.
In order to develop her expertise and knowledge of children's centre management, she took the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL).
'It seemed a good way of getting my head around the job,' she says.
Before running the children's centre, June was inclusion leader at Cherry Orchard Primary School. She combined both roles up to 2008 and then concentrated on solely managing the children's centre when it officially opened.
'I had a lot of contact with parents and I have always had an interest in younger children and working with families, so I decided that working at the children's centre would be a real challenge,' she says.
June took the NPQICL at St Thomas Children's Centre, run by the CREC Consortium, the regional provider of NPQICL in the West Midlands.
The qualification is open to leaders of children's centres. She took it two years ago, when the children's centre was in its early stages.
'It might have been more helpful to have done it later on as we didn't have a lot of things going on then at the centre. However, I still found it extremely useful.'
The course took her a year and involved two study weeks, a three-day residential and various days of study throughout the year.
'I had time off to attend the study days and some time for study leave but it was still hard combining the course with my job,' she says. 'It was particularly stressful when I had an assignment to do. But it has really helped me in my work at the centre, which I thoroughly enjoy.
'Changing to working at the children's centre has been a very different experience, particularly as I had to give up the teacher's pay and conditions, so I have lost my long summer holidays.
'But I now work four days a week instead of five which is very nice,' she says.
