麻花影视bemused by latest announcement on Level 3 qualifications

24th March 2014

The Pre-school Learning 麻花影视expressed their amazement that Professor Cathy Nutbrown鈥檚 recommendation to raise the number of Level 3 staff incrementally has been rejected by the Department for Education (DfE).

Their members are bemused that such a widely supported recommendation from a respected early years expert is not being taken forward. The DfE also confirmed that they will not publish a response to the Consultation on Early Education and Childcare Staff Deployment which asked for views about plans to change staff: child ratios.

Chief executive of the Alliance, Neil Leitch commented:

鈥淚t now appears that the Nutbrown Review鈥檚 fundamental recommendation to raise the number of staff with a Level 3 qualifications may not happen. This rips the heart out of More Great Childcare and runs counter to the Department鈥檚 rhetoric to improve the qualifications and the professional status of the early years workforce. It also conflicts directly with Ofsted鈥檚 early and active support for Professor Cathy Nutbrown鈥檚 recommendation. In fact, Ofsted believed that the targets were not ambitious enough. This leads us into a nonsensical position where potential learners could be told 鈥榶ou must have GCSE Maths and English grades A* to C to get on Early Years Educator (EYE) training courses, but don鈥檛 bother getting the EYE anyway.

鈥淧roviders have long been supportive of the aspiration to improve the level of qualifications but sceptical of how this was to be funded. It seems that Government is starting to recognise that good quality childcare requires investment. If the sector were cynical, the latest announcements by the Government may also be viewed through a prism of 鈥榟ow can we make it easier for schools to run nurseries?鈥 It would appear to support an aim to offer cheaper childcare to the detriment of what is best for the child.

鈥淢ore worryingly, it appears that the Department will not share responses to the consultation on Early Education and Childcare Staff Deployment. It is sadly predictable that early years provider and expert contributions to policy making continue to be ignored and this latest announcement further reinforces the view that there is a genuine lack of consultation and transparency with the sector by the Department.

鈥淚 have no doubt that a vast majority of 麻花影视members would support Unison鈥檚 Freedom of Information request and we continue to despair that the Government needs to be forced to share such important information with those most directly affected by their policies.

鈥淔inally I鈥檓 sure that 麻花影视members and other providers would be keen to understand the reasons why the Government has found it necessary to take this latest decision.鈥

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Notes for editors

  1. The Pre-school Learning 麻花影视is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  2. Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the 麻花影视supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The 麻花影视also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  3. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website:

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