'Training the trainers' has become something of a buzz phrase of late, and it is likely to stay on everyone's lips as the drive to reform the early years workforce steps up. If there aren't enough trainers with the right experience and knowledge, then, obviously, improving the qualifications of the workforce is an impossible task. Nursery World has discovered that the shortage of NVQ assessors in early years and playwork has reached 'crisis point' in some areas (see News, page 4). The situation is likely to worsen as the new National Occupational Standards in Children's Care, Learning and Development come into force on 1 November.
'Training the trainers' has become something of a buzz phrase of late, and it is likely to stay on everyone's lips as the drive to reform the early years workforce steps up. If there aren't enough trainers with the right experience and knowledge, then, obviously, improving the qualifications of the workforce is an impossible task.
Nursery World has discovered that the shortage of NVQ assessors in early years and playwork has reached 'crisis point' in some areas (see News, page 4). The situation is likely to worsen as the new National Occupational Standards in Children's Care, Learning and Development come into force on 1 November.
This is an issue that the Government and its agencies need to tackle urgently, with childcarers queuing up to take NVQ levels 2 and 3, and the prospect of modules covering the nought to 16 age range exacerbating the problem of recruiting enough assessors.
It is not only with NVQs that action needs to be taken. The magnitude of the task facing the sector in training at all levels for birth to threes, the Foundation Stage, and leadership is such that a 'cascade' through training the trainers is probably the only way to go.
Liz Roberts, editor
