The Executive published a summary of research into attitudes to qualifications, Interchange 65: Uptake and Perceptions of Early Years Qualifications, last week. The study, carried out by George Street Research between March and July 2000, included a questionnaire which was completed by more than 700 childcare employees, working in a range of settings including playgroups, out-of-school facilities, playschemes, private and local authority day nurseries, nursery schools and local authority classes. The researchers also questioned students, childminders, employers and representatives of national childcare organisations.
Around two in five childcare workers were classified by their employer as having a recognised pre-school or early-years qualification. But almost 20 per cent of those who took part in the survey claimed that their organisations did not employ anyone with a recognised qualification. This included 19 per cent of playgroups. Employers felt that having a suitable personality and relevant, practical experience were more important than qualifications, even at senior level.
There was a broad consensus that insufficient funding was available for training, while employers feared that if they provided financial support, they might not necessarily have time to recoup their investment, as better trained employees were more likely to move on. They were also concerned about asking parents to pay more for places without first making them aware of the benefits of having better qualified staff.
The study explored employers' and employees' opinions of the two leading childcare qualifications currently available, the HNC (Higher National Certificate) in childcare and education and the SVQ (Scottish Vocational Qualifications) level 2 and 3 in early years care and education.
The HNC is usually a one-year, full-time, college-based course. From 1996-97 to 1998-99, the number of awards increased by 38 per cent and in 1997-98 a total of 1,074 awards were made.
The SVQ is work-based and is designed for those already working in nurseries and other childcare settings. New SVQs in early years care and education were introduced in January 1998. Since then, 653 students have entered the course at level 2 and 369 have entered at level 3.
The researchers found that 55 per cent of employers in nurseries and 51 per cent of employers in playgroups were likely to recommend the HNC rather than the SVQ to staff because they saw it as offering better career opportunities and commanding more widespread recognition. The summary said, 'There was considerable kudos attached to the HNC route - it was seen as being the more traditional way to complete the required study. Employees and employers were more likely to understand what the course sought to deliver. It is true, also, that the more college-based approach of the course suggested it would be more challenging and lent it more stature.' The main reasons for favouring the SVQ were the practical experience it provided, coupled with lack of disruption in the workplace, as staff do not have to be released to attend college.
Nevertheless, views on the content of both the HNC and SVQ course contents were generally favourable. Both were seen to cover all relevant areas of interest and in sufficient depth, and to be appropriate to students' needs. However, both courses were seen as giving insufficient attention to the care of babies.
Childminders showed little interest in either the HNC or SVQ. Only 13 per cent said they wanted to complete this type of qualification in the future, while 71 per cent said they would need financial assistance to do so.
Interchange 65: Uptake and Perceptions of Early Years Qualifications is available on the website www.scotland.gov.uk.
