However, I found the letter by Richard Dorrance, chief executive of the Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (Letters, 11 March) to be very useful regarding this situation. I contacted Mr Dorrance directly to explain and he could not have been more helpful.
As for the concern that my qualification was invalid, he explained that this was not the case, and that my qualifications, along with my continuous work experience in childcare, meant that my NNEB was still valid. He told me that all that was required from my employers was to put together an action plan for Ofsted that showed I would be undertaking some continuing professional development in the key areas of child protection, special educational needs, Early Learning Goals, and health and safety.
He then gave me the name of someone to contact at the Department for Education and Skills and suggested I tell her my employers were insisting on a letter to confirm that my qualifications were still valid, as they needed this to show to Ofsted. I am pleased to say that I have received this letter, and that my NNEB is equivalent to a Level 3 qualification.
I hope my experience may help other nursery nurses who have found themselves in a similar situation. My advice to them is: do not give up on your NNEB, and keep fighting for the recognition that the qualification deserves.
Gwen Oakley Maidstone, Kent
