The Children’s Workforce Development Council is due to release a list of the provider names later this week, however some training organisations have already revealed that they will be running EYPS training.
Eight providers will be responsible for delivering the EYPS programme across England from 2012-2015.
Those that have confirmed that they will be running EYPS training from January. include the University of Chichester, which will head a consortium of six universities and training institutions offering training across London and the South East through 1,000 fully-subsidised places.
Chichester has teamed up with the University of Winchester, Portsmouth University, Brighton University, Canterbury Christ Church University, and Tribal Education to offer 1,000 subsidised places, including bursaries and supply cover for early years workers while they train.
Recruitment for the EYPS programme starts next month, with students able to choose one of four pathways from six-month part-time courses to two years of full-time study.
Pia Parry, head of childhood and youth studies at the university, said, ‘We’re absolutely delighted that the University of Chichester has been successful in applying for the provision. EYPS training has the potential to make a real difference to the support for young children and their families. It will also help many disadvantaged children by training people to better understand and cater for their needs.
'We hope to encourage people to consider a career change to working in an early years setting, as well as broadening the demographic of early years workers.’
Julia Macfarlane, senior business development manager at the university, said, ‘As well as being a huge contract for the university, it is also a big boost to the economy in the South East. It will bring in over £6m over the next three years, and enhance the employment prospects of many people across the region.’
The University of Northampton will offer 530 funded places as the lead provider of the East Midlands EYPS network. The network will work with 11 local authorities to provide EYPS training, as well as Continuing Professional Development for existing EYPs, throughout the East Midlands, in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University and Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln.
Training and support will take place at four main venues in Nottingham, Lincoln, Leicester and Northampton.
The contract is worth £4m over three years.
Senior EYPS assessor Jeanne Barczewska told Nursery World, ‘We’re really delighted. It’s really exciting to be working on the next phase of EYPS and very encouraging that the Government is still committed to supporting Early Years Profesionals.’
Bristol-based training provider Best Practice Network, which currently offers training for EYPS, has also confirmed that it is one of the successful providers chosen to run EYPS courses from January 2012.
