EYPs in Devon are being given the chance to achieve 'Specialist' status as part of a project that gives them the opportunity to disseminate their good practice and inspire others.
There are many benefits to this initiative, not least that good practice receives a boost across the spectrum of local providers, while EYPs themselves feel valued and confident.
According to Victoria Bamsey, an early years associate with Babcock Learning and Development Partnership who is working with the project, it is all about using existing expertise to raise standards and make a real difference.
'My role is to support EYPs to lead and inspire others, improving quality in their settings, and ultimately improving outcomes for children,' she says.
'There are more than 200 EYPs in Devon, and the project partly came about by reflecting on how to raise their status while highlighting some of the outstanding practice we see across the county.
With the Government's proposals for Early Years Teachers, we are obviously going through a period of transition with regard to EYPS but this does not alter the fact that existing EYPs need to be recognised as professionals in their own right.'
GAINING RECOGNITION
Devon currently has 18 Specialist EYPs with more going through the moderation process. Specialisms that EYPs focus on with settings include risk assessments, working with parents, schemas, child-initiated play, communication, supporting key workers, infant brain development, planning the enabling environment, developing high-quality talk, the Mosaic Approach, Montessori and evaluating practice.
The application process to become a Specialist is not onerous; it involves an initial panel reviewing the application and making a subsequent quality assurance visit.
During the visit, the EYP demonstrates how their expertise works in practice and they have the opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback after the visit.
'After this visit a complete evaluation is carried out, which is a very useful exercise and one which EYPs say they have appreciated,' says Ms Bamsey.
While there is no additional funding to support becoming a Specialist, EYPs receive certificates and gain wide recognition for their skills. Devon County Council is also promoting these individuals through its website database, its publications, its Early Years and Childcare Advisory and Early Years Consultancy teams.
EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS
Kirstin Williams, who has worked as a teacher and now runs Butterflies Childminding in Devon, achieved EYPS in 2010 and was keen to explore the possibilities of becoming a Specialist.
She says, 'I applied to focus on enabling environments as a specialism, spurred on by the fact I feel my setting is unique. I don't have any commercial toys at all, and all of my resources are natural, and/or recycled and open-ended. I've done a lot of research in this area, particularly as part of my masters degree.'
Ms Williams put together a portfolio for Ms Bamsey, which pulled together all her resources, and explained how children engage with them and enjoy rich learning opportunities.
She has now been a Specialist EYP for around 18 months, and reports that one practitioner who recently visited her was very impressed and took away lots of ideas. The two have stayed in touch by email. 'I've also just been filmed by the Early Years Consultancy Team for a training video to be used in childminder network meetings,' she says.
Another exciting development has been the launch of her Facebook page called Play, Naturally, which now has nearly 2,000 followers.
'I am now supporting practitioners beyond Devon; in fact, the site has an international reach with several followers in Australia, the USA and Hong Kong,' she says.
The value of undertaking Specialist EYPS is something that Ms Williams recognises. 'For me personally the scheme has been very important for reflecting on my practice and every aspect of my job and role. It has helped me to see how much I can achieve in my capacity as a childminder, and it is very encouraging that Devon County Council has recognised its importance.'
SHARING KNOWLEDGE
Victoria Bamsey testifies to the fact that feedback from EYPs involved in the project has been 'outstanding'.
'EYPs have been very happy with the process of becoming a Specialist,' she says. 'They have said it is an exciting opportunity that allows them to demonstrate their skills and develop professionally. For myself it has been a pleasure to support them, and to go in to settings and experience excellent practice.'
She adds, 'Our Specialist EYPs share their knowledge on a purely voluntary basis. They give up their time unpaid to give visiting practitioners the opportunity to see how they put their expertise into practice in their setting. It is this dedication to the profession, the passion and enthusiasm behind what our Specialist EYPs believe in, that we want to celebrate and hold up as examples of professionalism in the early years workforce.'
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