Nursery World - 'Give teachers special early years training'

Teacher training courses do not equip teachers for working with the youngest learners, members of the National Campaign for Real Nursery Education said at their AGM last week.

Margaret Edgington, vice-president of the group, said current trainingcourses 'are too generic. They do not cover areas such as outdoor play,or creating an environment that supports child-initiated learning -things which are fundamental to working with the youngest agegroups.'

NCRNE members also criticised Early Years Professional Status for 'notbeing rigorous enough', as EYP Status can be obtained without undergoingprofessional training.

The group, which comprises more than 200 members, is calling for aspecialist early years teacher programme covering practice with childrenfrom birth to eight years old.

Members also reported more maintained nursery schools and children'scentres facing closure or significant financial cuts and called for theGovernment to take action to ensure adequate funding. The group pointedto DfES-funded research showing that outcomes for children are best inmaintained nursery schools and integrated centres with a strongnursery-school core.

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