City & Guilds has developed a Level 5 childcare qualification in response to considerable demand from employers for a better progression from Level 3.
The new Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for the Children and Young People's Workforce (Early Years), open for registration on 1 April. is aimed at senior practitioners and deputy managers working in early years settings.
The average learner will normally be expected to take up to 18 months to complete the qualification.
It is based on an existing qualification in Wales and Northern Ireland, launched in 2011. However, up until now there has not been an equivalent specialist Level 5 qualification for childcare in England.
Suzi Gray, children's portfolio adviser for City & Guilds, told Nursery World, 'We were approached by a number of different employers and training providers who were concerned about the lack of access to the route to EYPS. There was also a concern that current provision did little to develop core skills and knowledge in leadership and management, thus indicating that a Level 5 vocational qualification was needed.'
Ms Gray added, 'We believe the absence of an appropriate Early Years Level 5 qualification is unfair and does a disservice to practitioners. There are some people who won't want to or can't afford a degree, or decide it's not the way to go. These practitioners are no less committed or passionate about working with children and they deserve access to a qualification that provides meaningful and relevant progression from Level 3 and one that is linked to the National Occupational Standards.'
The only similar Level 5 qualification available is the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People's Services. However, this was not established as a specialist qualification for early years and childcare workers.
Ms Gray said, 'While this qualification may contain some common units, it is intended for use only in social care settings, such as residential or domiciliary care, respite services, adoption and fostering.'
Janet Dawson, training director for e-portfolio training company People and Business Development, said, 'It's a perfectly good qualification and we are delivering it to a few nursery managers who chose to take it when no other opportunities were available. But it was never intended for early years provision.'
The new Level 5 is a competence-based qualification and is assessed using a variety of methods including work-based reflection and observations of practice. The qualification is made up of two pathways: the advanced practice route or the management route (see box).
Ms Gray said, 'The advanced practice route has been designed for aspiring managers who aren't quite there as managers yet, but are interested in career progression or have perhaps been "acting up" in the setting.' Having completed the advanced practice route, practitioners may secure additional duties and responsibilities within a setting or even gain promotion. In these circumstances learners will be able to "top-up" with additional units and credits from the management pathway in order to achieve both qualifications. This removes the need to duplicate learning.'
Ross Midgley, director of PBD said, 'There has been a gap in terms of career progression, clearly identified by the Nutbrown Review. There hasn't been a way forward for practitioners after Level 3, unless they go the graduate route. The units are genuinely designed for the requirements of early years settings and can be delivered to people while they are working. We're certainly hoping the Level 5 will carry some units towards a higher qualification.'
City & Guilds' Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for the Children and Young People's Workforce (Early Years)
Candidates can choose to follow either the advanced practice pathway or the management pathway.
Mandatory units in the advanced practice pathway (52 of the required 80 credits):
- Support learning and development
- Understand child development
- Lead practice in supporting positive outcomes
- Develop and implement safeguarding policy and procedures
- Professional practice
- Develop health and safety and risk management
- Work in partnership
- Use and develop communication systems
- Promote professional development
- Champion equality, diversity and inclusion
Mandatory units in the management pathway (64 of the required 90 credits):
- All the units from the advanced practice pathway, plus the following two (which can be taken as optional units in the advanced practice pathway):
- Lead and manage a team
- Develop professional supervision practice
Whichever pathway is chosen, candidates also have to make up the credit value by selecting between four and nine units from a list of optional units.
Further information
The 'Children & Young People's Workforce' section of www.cityandguilds.com will shortly be updated with information on Level 5 for England.
www.pbdevelopment.co.uk/level5. Those who sign up with PBD by 31 March 2013 will get a £300 discount on the price of £1,750.
