Nursery World - Opinion: In my view - EYPs have a new voice

Early Years Professionals deserve a strong professional voice of their own, given their role in the delivery of the new Early Years Foundation Stage. Growing numbers are joining the EYPs' section of Aspect, the association for children's services' professionals. They established an EYP national committee and autonomous section within Aspect in January. The national committee elected EYP Rosie Bloomfield as chair. It is actively lobbying for:

- Specific measures to achieve genuine equivalence between EYP Status (EYPS) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

- A clearly-defined national pay framework for EYPs to ensure fair-pay treatment that recognises their curriculum leadership role

- Central Government to support the application of this national pay framework, across the mixed market of childcare providers, via subsidies where necessary

- A specific programme of continuing professional development for EYPs

- Protocols to clarify the working relationship between EYPs and managers of settings, and between EYPs and other childcare staff

- Intensified efforts to communicate the distinct nature of the EYP role to all interested parties across the country.

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