With Ofsted inspecting nearly 17,000 childminders and nurseries every year, it is no surprise that I strongly support the Government's new focus on introducing higher level qualifications for the early years workforce.
The very best practitioners know how to foster a young child's curiosity and independence, but how can we expect a practitioner with limited basic skills in English and mathematics to be able to do this? We simply need more expertise in the system. This is why I welcome the proposal to introduce graduate-level Early Years Teachers specifically trained to teach young children, as well as the creation of an Early Years Educator qualification requiring practical experience and at least a GCSE C grade in English and mathematics.
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