In December the CWDC extended the deadline for offering some early years and childcare qualifications until January 2012, but Montessori and Steiner organisations are still waiting for a decision on theirs (News, 16 December 2010).
A second follow-up meeting is to take place in May, to take into account the findings of the EYFS review and the Wolf review into vocational qualifications, which was published last week.
Steiner and Montessori awarding bodies are seeking continued recognition for their level 4 qualifications and exemption from the new CWDC level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce.
They argue that the loss of recognition for Montessori and Steiner training threatens the diversity of early years provision in England and undermines the Government's commitment to providing free nursery places for threeand-four year-olds.
Barbara Isaacs, academic director at Montessori Centre International, told Nursery World, 'We put forward a strong case for the need to continue training in these unique pedagogies, not only because they are also recognised as international qualifications but also because they meet the criteria of the national occupational standards and the EYFS. Neither Steiner nor Montessori nurseries would be able to function in the future without fully trained Steiner and Montessori teachers able to effectively support children's learning. The lack of recognition of the dedicated teacher training would inevitably result in this unique and diverse early years provision vanishing from the English early years landscape.'
She added, 'We are not prepared to downgrade our qualifications. We want them to be recognised in their own right. There is a need for a level 3 qualification, but it does not suit our needs.'
Janni Nichol, early childhood represntative for the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship, said, 'We have a completely different approach, so it's meaningless to include the content of the new level 3 Diploma.
'We hope that the CWDC and the DfE will acknowledge that Steiner and Montessori qualifications should be exempt from having to include the Diploma.'
Zac Goldsmith, Conservative MP for Richmond Park, has tabled an Early Day Motion criticising the CWDC's proposals for reforming training for early years workers and calling for continued recognition for Montessori qualifications and training providers.
