Nursery World - Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies

Six years on from their introduction, have the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies (ECGPC) fulfilled their remit to raise standards in best practice? Tanya Richardson reveals the results of a current audit.

Dr Tanya Richardson is senior lecturer in Early Years at the University of Northampton and co-chair of the ECSDN

The Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies (GPCs) were developed by the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN) in 2018 with the aim of strengthening early childhood graduate professionalism and ensuring ‘the skilful application of knowledge to practice and practice to knowledge’ (ECSDN, 2019). Students have to evidence critical knowledge and application to practice in the following areas:

1. Advocating for young children’s rights and participation

2. Promote holistic child development

3. Work directly with young children, families, and colleagues to promote health, well-being, safety, and nurturing care

4. Observe, listen, and plan for young children to support their well-being, early learning, progression, and transitions

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