new leaders in early years

new leaders in early years

by: joshuajones - 06-09-10 22:27

I knw this topic has been posted before, but for some reason I cannot post on it , so I will start another one.

New qualification that once again the powers that be seem to have missed the point. Entry requirements below :

To be eligible to apply for New Leaders in Early Years you will need to meet the following

essential minimum requirements:

• Upper second class (2:1) or first class (1) degree from a UK higher education institution (or recognised

overseas equivalent qualification) in a subject predominantly unrelated to early childhood studies..

Have not applied for a career in early years before

Soooooo leaders in Early Years will have no previous experience in child care, no relevant degree and this will help us how ??

Am I missing something here ???

by: sparkie

Don't OFSTED/ eyfs / welfare standards say minimum of two years? Think that is totally wrong as well. I have 24 years experience ans some days thats no enough!

by: red sun

Just another nail in the under-valued coffin!!

by: joshuajones

Apparently it will raise our status as professionals !!! "New Leaders in Early Years is a fantastic new programme designed to encourage the very best graduates to sign up to be leaders in the Early Years sector. New Leaders in Early Years will help to raise the profile and status of those working with young children - which is crucial to giving every child the opportunity and confidence to grow and achieve in life. I hope that talented and committed men and women will sign up to be a part of this exciting new opportunity." says Sarah Teather Soooo all those people currently studying for Early Years degrees, clearly are not the best - how sad that actually knowing and understanding your job through education and experience is belittled, it seems absolute madness.

by: red sun

Couldn't agree with you more Joshuajones. Why on earth do we bother to train, get degrees, work hard and enjoy the job, only to be undermined by statements such as these!!!

by: curly

I am flabbergasted. I can understand wanting to recruit degree educated people but specifically not wanting experience or an early years related degree is really a step too far.

by: joshuajones

Well when they are training, for 2 years, they will have 120 days working experience in the first year, and be employed in the 2nd year (?) AND they will do their EYPS !!

Which of course begs the question, what are those people currently training to do EYPS, who DO have a relevant degree in Early years, going to do !!!!

Cos you can't be a New Leader, cos you were stupid enough to think that actually studying  the subject you wanted a job in was going to be useful !!! 

by: curly

In fact I'm really angry about about this because it it so heavily funded:

'Tuition fees for the MA and EYPS training are covered as part of the programme. In addition participants  will receive a bursary of £8,000 in the first year. In the second year participants will be in a working role and completing their masters, during which time they will be receiving a wage of around £17,000.'

It would make sense if this was specifically aimed at those with a 2.1+ EY degree, and maybe considering other applicants, but to exclude them says a lot about how much the gov values the current EY degree and the people who have one.

by: Tallulah

The idea that the qualification should not be in Early Years beggars belief. You guys should get organised and make some noise about that - in Ireland where I live the governnment has announced that people who are on welfare will have to work for their benefit in areas such as childcare - that goes to show how much we are valued - it sends a clear message that anyone can do this job

by: curly

I think Nurseryworld should do some phone calls for a rationale and write an article about it. (please)

RE: RE: new leaders in early years - 17-09-10 13:15

by: Karen

Nursery World is currently putting together an article looking at the rationale of the programme and exploring it more deeply.

I welcome more views on the subject - particularly whether anyone thinks in the longer term this initiative might raise the profile and status of the sector?

If you would like to discuss this please email me - karen.faux@haymarket.com

Thanks

Karen

by: allie

Good idea curly!

by: curly

I've been doing the maths and this adds up to £34,000 to each student (incl 2 years of course fees paid).

If I want to do the masters at my local uni it will cost me £4500 for the course fees plus I wouldn't get the £25000 bursary. I think I'll do my PGCE and leave early years altogether as I'm obviously not wanted.

by: whmon

Tallulah,

Of course not everyone can do this job. I have a nursery nurse working for me who has 30 years experience. Every day I have to remind her of the basics. I would love to replace her with someone who has the intellegence to have gained a degree and therefore has the intelligence to follow basic instructions.

by: joshuajones

No one is suggesting anyone could do this job, just a common sense approach to the qualification. Excluding those people with a relevant degree is a nonsense.

Sadly I have 2 ladies with degrees who cannot follow a simple instruction, and they are both doing their EYP. A degree does NOT equal commonsense !

by: curly

Hi Tallulah,

Just because some Nursey Nurses wouldn't make good leaders doesn't mean they all can't.

This course means that a 21 year old with an engineering degree has a better opportunity of becoming a New EY leader than anyone currently working in Early Years, even if they do have a first-class EY degree and 10 years of experience.

by: dawn p

This has had me seething too. Absolutely rediculous. The condem party are a total waste of space. The thing is i dont think we need to worry as people with other degrees wouldnt want to work in our sector as we are all so badly paid; why would they? A business graduate for example would probably start in an office making cups of tea for about 25000. why would thay want to lead a nursery for 18?

by: curly

For £34000 worth of benefits, an MA, and nothing else better to do.

by: dawn p

good point. in the long term though if they are financially minded they would lose out.

by: Tallulah

Just to clarify - It wasn't me who said about the nursery nurse - the message was just addressed to me - I totally disagree with the requirement that the degree should not be related to early years - it's like saying people with a degree in early years aren't as competent as people with other degrees - our government in Ireland want  leaders to get degrees too - then they announce that people on the dole (benefits) are going to be sent to work in childcare which completely undermines our status as professionals

by: whmon

I think that the issue is this: In all degree required jobs, the initial degree, whatever the degree may be - is regarded as a fundamental requirement. It is generally unimportant what the degree is -as long as it is not something ridiculous, as marketed by many former polytechnics. Therefore, the requirement of a degree in the childcare sector raises the sector to the same level as other professions, where the first degree simply denotes that the applicant for the job has a nominal 'degree' of intelligence. It is the second and third degree which count for the rest of the employment world. Are we saying that the childcare sector should be different? Are we saying that people who are not intelligent enough to gain a basic degree should look after, and indeed formulate the early path of education to our children?

by: curly

It's not the requirement of a degree that is the issue here whmon, it's the fact that having an Early Years degree excludes you from the programme.

It suggests that by having an EY degree you're not worth investing in as a new leader.