Aspect's report on the Early Years Professional project is timely indeed, highlighting as it does the challenges facing its implementation as the number of EYPs grows (see News, page 4).
Many thousands more EYPs are needed to meet the target of having one in every children's centre by 2010 and one in every daycare setting by 2015. This aim is unlikely to be achieved, however, if some of the issues detailed in the Aspect report are not tackled.
From Nursery World's conferences, forums and contacts, as well as others across the early years sector, it is clear that the lack of parity with Qualified Teacher Status in pay, status, recognition and employment opportunities is one of the biggest problems. Parity was promised to those undertaking EYPS, yet there is no sign of it so far. EYPs are discovering that they are effectively barred from many graduate leader jobs in children's centres - the need for centres to have QT input and graduate leadership means that a QT can fulfil both requirements.
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