The DCSF has previously stated a commitment to have a graduate in every early years setting by 2015, but Nursery World understands they are keen to make this stronger than an aspiration.
More detailed plans on raising qualification levels for early years workers are expected in the update on the Ten-Year Childcare Strategy, due early next year.
The 2020 Children and Young People's Workforce Strategy, published last week, said, 'There is much further to go in order to make a commitment to have a graduate in every full daycare setting by 2015 and build a truly highly skilled early years and childcare workforce at all levels. We are now considering requiring all full daycare settings to be graduate-led by 2015.'
With around 2,500 graduate-level Early Years Professionals (EYPs) and a further 2,400 in training, the Government said it was on track to meet the 2015 target.
The National Day Nurseries Association said it was seeking clarification on whether nurseries will be required to have an EYP in post by 2015.
NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku said pay must match qualifications and skills. 'This is especially true for graduate leadership, and while the Graduate Leader Fund is going some way to address this issue, many nurseries are wondering what they will do if the funding ends. In addition, while we welcome improved qualifications for all across the workforce, we question if the move to make teaching a masters profession will create further inequality as Early Years Professional Status is intended as a comparable level.'
A new National Children's and Young People's Workforce Partnership is to be set up to improve the co-ordination of workforce policy across sectors which will draw on the experience of front line workers and evidence of what works.
Public services union Unison said it would have liked to see a greater commitment to raising pay in the sector.
Ben Thomas, national officer for children's services at Unison, said, 'We welcome the partnership but we wait to see whether it will have powers to address poor pay and conditions in early years.'
