Supporters rally for higher standards

The national children's charity Barnardo's, the National Association for Special Educational Needs, the National Confederation of Parent-Teacher Associations and the National Association of Nursery Nurses are among the latest organisations to have expressed their support for Nursery World's Stop the Drop campaign.

The campaign, launched during August in response to the Government's consultation on its proposed national standards for daycare in England, has already won the backing of many early years organisations, practitioners, specialists and students.

At present, many local authorities require half the staff in a daycare setting to be qualified to NNEB, NVQ level 3 or equivalent. Under the proposed National Care Standards, which come into effect next autumn, this will fall to NVQ level 2.

Nursery World is calling for:
l 50 per cent of staff to be qualified to NVQ level 3, NNEB or above, within a specified time.
l All staff without a supervisory role to be qualified or working towards at least NVQ level 2.
l Managers and deputies to have at least two years' experience in addition to a level 3 qualification or above.
l Independent schools to be included in the new standards.

Barnardo's senior policy officer, Alan Coombe, said, 'We are particularly concerned that the qualification standard set should be NVQ3, not NVQ2, because NVQ2 does not have a child protection element.'

Mike Gordon, executive secretary of the National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN), said its executive committee would discuss its position formally at its next scheduled meeting and added, 'At this point I can say the Association opposes any action which reduces the quality of support for children in early years settings. It urges the Government to invest in high standards of care and education.'

He said research evidence showed that the early years were a key period for children who have special educational needs and contributed significantly to their later development. Early years staff had a vital part to play in working with other professionals to identify, assess and address children's needs, so NASEN would wish 'to promote an enhancement of their knowledge, skills and qualifications'.

Margaret Morrissey OBE, public relations officer for the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations, said, 'Research shows the years up to seven can significantly influence a child's future. This will only happen if the quality of teaching and care is the very best.'

Frieda Baxter, publicity officer for the National Association of Nursery Nurses, said that anything less than half the staff being qualified to NVQ 3 would  lead to a devaluing and de-skilling of staff already in the field. 'With a largely untrained workforce we will be going backwards,' she added.

Let us air your views by contacting Nursery World by phone on 020 7782 3120 or e-mail on alison.mercer@nursery-world. co.uk, on www.nursery-world.com or by writing a letter to the address on page 3.