UK training provider for the early years sector, Realise has expressed “fundamental concerns” at plans for a new experience-based progression route for practitioners – and urged nurseries and other relevant stakeholders to engage in a government consultation on the subject

The proposed changes would potentially allow staff working at nurseries for as little as six months to make their own assessment decisions about their colleagues’ knowledge, skills and experience to determine whether they are eligible to meet the criteria to be qualified at Level 3.

This contrasts sharply with the current requirements which sees staff having to complete official qualifications under a regulated process to be deemed a Level 3 qualified team member.

Anyone with an interest in early years – from nursery managers and practitioners to charities and local authorities – are invited to submit their feedback on the plans before May 20.

Full details of the consultation can be found here.

Karen Derbyshire, operations director for training provider Realise, said: “The fact that the government is looking at ways to drive new recruits into the sector and ensure the number of qualified staff increases is very welcomed.

“We are also pleased to see a consultation period in place for those people working and operating in the sector and would encourage as many settings and individuals as possible to provide their feedback.

“However, we do have a number of fundamental concerns over the proposals put forward and fear it may undermine the thorough and regulated training process which rightly exists in early years and has done so for many decades.

“There is arguably no greater responsibility than overseeing the education and wellbeing of other people’s children and ensuring those practitioners have full and relevant qualifications is a vital part of the individual’s career development and the overall success of the sector.

“Our assessors require at least three years’ experience after achieving a full and relevant Level 3 qualification themselves to be eligible for their role, as well as having a Level 3 assessor award and a teaching qualification.

“On top of that, the results from our assessors are regularly reviewed by our quality assurance team at Realise and an external awards board.

“All those processes and rules are in place to ultimately ensure that every learner achieving a qualification has done so in the correct way – and is fully prepared for the major responsibility being a Level 3 practitioner brings.

“There is a real chance under the plans being consulted on that the rigorous process a learner has to take to secure a qualification would be undermined.”

Under the proposals, a practitioner’s existing knowledge, skills and experience must be assessed against the level 3 early years educator criteria in order to take the experience-based route.

The practitioner must have Level 2 English and Paediatric First Aid qualifications and must also have worked in the sector for a minimum timeframe – suggested at six months – before they can be considered to be counted in the Level 3 ratios.

The staff member making a decision on their colleague’s experienced-based route status would be required to hold a Level 3 qualification themselves and have been working in an early years setting for a minimum of six months.

Karen added: “The timeframes are a concern because six months isn’t a long period for someone to be working in the sector and then make a judgement on a colleague’s competency.

“While the new recruit is likely to have a qualification from another sector, there are concerns that by not engaging in an official Level 3 qualification in early years, they will be missing skills in vital areas of early years including child development, legislation and regulation and safeguarding for babies.

“The other concern is that the competency judgements don’t pass from one nursery to another so if a practitioner moves on, they may be deemed Level 3 qualified in one nursery – but not another which raises concerns around consistency.”