Work Matters: Early years professionals - Case studies
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Delyth Mathieson, early years project manager at Edge Hill University, explains the wider perspective in what is needed to achieve EYPS.
Although much of the assessment process focuses on the 39 standards, in reality there are other aspects that also have to be addressed in order to gain EYPS. You will also need to show evidence of the following.
Personal practice and leadership and support of others in each standards group
The requirement is not to show both personal practice and leadership and support of others for each standard, as this would mean there were actually 78 standards to evidence! It means each of the groups of the standards: knowledge and understanding; effective practice; relationships with children; communicating and working in partnership with families and carers; teamwork and collaboration and professional development.
Experience across the 0-5 age range
The assessors are looking to see that you demonstrate your practice and lead and support others within the age groups 0-20 months; 16-36 months; 30-60 months.
Your written tasks and your evidence must show how you do this and that the evidence is firmly within that age range. If, for example, you claim that you have worked with a group of children and only one of them falls within the age range and this is the only example of your practice, then the assessor will rightly want to know more. This can be addressed by making sure you have clear evidence to support your working across the whole age range and perhaps considering witnesses who can support you in providing some specific examples of your practice and/or leadership and support.
Qualifications
You will also need to show you meet the qualifications criteria for EYPS. You will need to document that you have English and mathematics GCSE at grade C or above or a recognised equivalency, as well as your degree and CRB clearance.
