Early Years Professional Status

Within the Every Child Matters context, it is recognised that every child deserves the best early years care and education possible. Practitioners gaining Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) will act as 'change agents' improving practice in the early years. Early Years Professional Status is critical to raising the quality of early years provision.

It is the government's aim to have Early Years Professional in all children's centres offering early years provision by 2010 and in every full daycare setting by 2015. The Children's Workforce Development Council believe that over time only those with EYPS should lead the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

The early years professional will model the skills and behaviours that safeguard and promote good outcomes for children. They will have the leadership skills and personal qualities to: change practice; support and mentor others; raise expectations; and encourage and support learning and professional development.

EYPS is a graduate level status. Graduates with a wide range of experience and qualifications working in a range of settings and roles, as well as new recruits, are potential candidates for EYPS. The graduate's skills and expertise in early years determines the EYPS pathway that they will enrol in.

Content

Depending on the EYPS pathway enrolled in, students study a selection of the following courses:

• Leading and Managing in Early Years (30 credits)
• Child Development and Learning: Birth to 5 years (30 credits)
• Mentor Development: The Practice-based Teacher (30 credits)
• Keeping Children Safe from Harm (15 credits)
• Curriculum and Assessment in the Early Years: Workplace Project (30 credits)

The four pathways to gain EYPS comprise of:

• Validation pathway (4 months part-time, assessment only)
• Short Extended Professional Development (Short EPD) pathway (6 months part-time)
• Long Extended Professional Development (Long EPD) pathway (15 months part-time)
• Full-Training pathway (12 months full-time)
• In both pathways 3 and 4, students are able to gain a Bachelor Honours degree.

Please note

Places on this programme are subject to the following conditions:

• Criminal Records Bureau check
• Occupational Health Screening