Early Years Professional Status gives recognition to practitioners with graduate level qualifications who have demonstrated that they meet a comprehensive set of standards. These standards are concerned with the knowledge, understanding and practical skills needed to lead and deliver effective early years practice. EYPS therefore is not a qualification but a validation of professional expertise.

Why do early years settings need EYPs?

Children’s development and learning from birth to the age of five have a significant influence on their future lives. It follows therefore that those who care for and educate young children should be sensitive to their needs and understand how to encourage their development.

Early Years Professional Status is a new role, which seeks to ensure that those working with children under the age of five benefit from the highest level of training. The Government aims to have an Early Years Professional in every children's centre and daycare setting by 2010 and 2015 respectively.

Who is EYPS for?

EYPS will open up new career opportunities across the early years sector and will also attract and retain new individuals in the early years workforce.

As an Early Years Professional you will be in a position to enhance significantly the quality of care for babies, toddlers and young children. You will also significantly enhance your career development prospects as an Early Years Professional.

EYPS is aimed at:

• people currently working in the early years workforce who can lead and develop good practice
• graduates from other fields who may wish to work in early years
• graduates from related fields who are interested in developing their practical and leadership skills

What pathways are available?

There are a number of development pathways people can follow to achieve EYPS. These different pathways are designed to recognise the range of skills, experience and backgrounds that potential candidates may have. In order to be eligible for the part-time pathways, candidates must work in a Children’s Centre or in the voluntary, private or independent sector.

The training undertaken will be based on the relevance and level of your qualifications and experience. At the University of Chichester we pride ourselves on the high level of personalised support for EYPS candidates so that you will be able to develop your knowledge and skills to your full potential.

For example

• Someone with an Early Childhood Studies Degree and some experience of working in the early years sector could potentially undertake the six-month short pathway to extend their personal experience and deepen their understanding of leadership.
  
• Someone with an Early Years Foundation Degree and less experience may be required to take a longer Extended Professional Development (EPD) pathway to 'top up' their degree to ordinary degree level and to develop fully the necessary skills to meet the Standards.

 

EYPS Pathways	Type of Candidate	Pathway Duration
Part-time Validation (assessment only) Pathway	Candidates will already be close to meeting the EYP Standards.	6.5 days over a 4-month period.
Part-time Short Extended Professional Development (EPD) Pathway	QTS in the primary age range, with experience of working with 3-5 year olds, but little experience of 0-3 yr olds. Degree in Early Childhood Studies with experience of working with 0-5 year olds.	6-month period which can include studying selected modules which will run one afternoon and evening per week.
Part-time Long Extended Professional Development (EPD) Pathway	Early Years Foundation Degree and experience of working with 0-5 year olds. Degree in unrelated subject with substantial experience across the 0-5 age range.	15-month period., which will include studying selected modules on a part-time basis.
Full Training Pathway	Vocational degree such as Foundation Degree or HND or substantial experience of working with 0-5 year olds. Degree in Psychology with a major study in Child Development. Some observation of, or research on, 0-5 year olds. QTS in the secondary age-range. Some broad or vocational degree, such as in health or the social sciences, which may include some study of childcare and development, with some contact with children. Other degrees will be considered. Degree with little/no subject content related to work in early years setting.

Excellent Financial Support for EYPS

Financial support is available from Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) and local authorities to make it as easy as possible to achieve EYPS.

The local authority ‘Graduate Leader Fund’ is available for Private Voluntary Independent and Early Years Settings. Both training and support cover are fully funded.

Go to www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/eyps/funding for further details.

Further Information

Go to: University of Chichester, Childhood Studies, Early Years, website:http://chiuni.ac.uk/csey

West Sussex Early Childhood Service: Lesley Bennett, lesley.bennett@westsussex.gov.uk 01243 520802

Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) www.cwdcouncil.org.uk

Every Child Matters www.everychildmatters.gov.uk

Contact Us

EYPS at University of Chichester: eyps@chi.ac.uk

Postal Address: Childhood Studies, University of Chichester, Bishop Otter Campus, College Lane, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 6PE

Programme Co-ordinator: Eva Mikuska
E.Mikuska@chi.ac.uk 01243 816 290

EYPS Programme Administrator: Denise Williams
d.a.williams@chi.ac.uk 01243 816 290

Programme Support: Jan Georgeson
J.Georgeson@chi.ac.uk 0794 114 6157