Bath Spa University

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Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) Training

Early Years Professional Status is an exciting new Government initiative aimed at raising the quality of early years provision the U.K.

Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) is a new award for graduate professionals working with the 0-5 age range. This status allows you to work with young children from birth to five years in settings such nurseries or children's centre.  In order to achieve the status you need to meet the 39 Standards (.pdf) set out by the Children's Workforce Development Council.

There are four possible routes depending on your previous knowledge and experience:

1. One year full-time training, for those with an unrelated degree and little experience with young children.
2. Long Extended Professional Development (EPD) for those in practice with limited experience and limited knowledge of early years, also for foundation students who wish to top up to a full honours degree;
3. Short Extended Professional Development (EPD) for those in practice with existing knowledge of early years;
4. Assessment Validation for those in practice with substantial knowledge and experience of early years.

Course Structure and Content

Depending on your previous knowledge and experience you can follow one of four routes:

Pathway:	Start:	Finish:	Bursary or Supply Cover:
Full time training pathway	September 2010	September 2011	£5000 bursary to candidate
Long extended professional pathway	September 2010	December 2011	£4000 to employer/business
Short extended professional development pathway	September 2010	March 2011	£1000 to employer
Validation pathway	September 2010	January 2011	£500 to employer

Full Time Training Pathway

This is a one year full time programme for graduates who have a degree.  Modules in the training could include:

• An Introduction to Early Years;
• Birth to Three;
• Three to Five;
• Language and Literature in Social Context;
• Constructions of Childhood;
• Placement in Setting;
• Policy, Legislation and National Strategy;
• Leadership and Management in Early Years.

Long Extended Professional Development (EPD) Pathway

This is a part - time course run over 15 months and is designed for you if you are already working in a setting, but have limited knowledge and experience, especially of leadership. This pathway is also suitable for Early Years Foundation Degree students.

Short Extended Professional Development (EPD) Pathway

This six-month pathway is designed for practitioners who are working in early years settings and have extensive knowledge and experience but not with all three age groups (babies, toddlers and children). It draws upon selected modules from the full pathway (see above) so that you can top up your knowledge as appropriate.

Validation Pathway

This pathway is for very experienced practioners already working in an early years setting who meet all the Entry Requirements and who are very close to being able to meet all of the 39 Standards (.pdf). All pathways above will eventually reach this stage as it is the last step to accessing your knowledge, experience and understanding of all the skills learnt.

Teaching Methods and Resources

Bath Spa University, with its particular expertise in early years education, has an excellent team of specialist early years staff. All teaching is tailored to candidates' individual requirements depending on which pathway you fall into and assessment can take place in the form of:

• Undertaking, documenting and evaluating a number of tasks;
• Providing a portfolio of supporting evidence against the Standards;
• Assessment visits to the workplace.

Individually Designed Training Programmes

The programmes for training outlined above can each be adapted to suit your particular requirements and background. For example, if you have already done Early Years as part of your degree course you may be able to skip some modules. There is an initial diagnostic process to enable you to select the right programme for you.

Entry Requirements

You will need a graduate qualification to attain EYPS, however if you have a foundation degree in Early Years you can 'top up' your qualification at Bath Spa University to the required degree level while you train.

You must have GCSE at grade C or above in Mathematics and English (English Literature is not accepted) and be able to provide evidence of these qualifications. Bath Spa does not offer an equivalence test. For more information, please visit www.equivalencytesting.com.

In addition you must: Be physically and mentally fit; Have no criminal background that might prevent you from working with children; Demonstrate that you can read effectively and communicate clearly in written and spoken English.

Please be aware that you will be required to complete a new Criminal Records Bureau Enhanced Disclosure application through Bath Spa University as part of the admissions process for this course.

Requirements Set by the CWDC

The Children's Workforce Development Council state that you must be employed by the non-maintained sector (a private/voluntary/independent setting or Children's Centre) If you are in the maintained sector, you will not be eligible for funding - this includes all state schools. If you have any further queries about this issue, please contact the CWDC on 0845 0450048.

In order to assess your eligibility for EYPS there is a self-assessment process (.pdf) available on the CWDC website.  Further information about EYPS can be found at this site as well.