Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 154
Develop a comprehensive Early Years Strategy, expanding the Early Career Framework and promoting National Professional Qualifications.
Recommendation
We recommend the Government ensure that the early years Sector is seen to be, and feels itself to be, a valued profession. To achieve this, we recommend the Government develop a comprehensive Early Years Strategy with a strong focus on workforce development. As part of this strategy, the Early Career Framework should be expanded to the early years sector. National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) should also be promoted more widely to increase uptake, including with Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) settings. We also recommend that the Government works to develop their outreach and communication channels with the early years sector to ensure that their voices are heard in the years to come.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of workforce development and engagement but states there are currently no plans to expand the Early Career Framework to the early years sector. However, it is promoting and fully funding the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL), working to encourage take-up in PVI settings, and continues to engage with the sector.
Paragraph Reference:
154
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government acknowledges the importance and huge contribution of the early years workforce on the lives of young children. As we develop our work to support the early years workforce, driving up interest in early years careers and then ensuring there are enough opportunities for career development is a priority for the Government. We will continue to engage closely with those in the early years sector as this work develops. Whilst there are currently no plans to expand the Early Careers Framework to the early years workforce, we are expanding the early years Professional Development Programme to support up to 10,000 additional practitioners to undertake training in the latest teaching early maths, alongside communication and language and personal, social and emotional development. In addition, the first two National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) cohorts began in Academic Year 2022–23. A training scholarship was made available to cover the cost of the course for participants. Demand was higher in the first year of delivery than anticipated. The NPQEYL will continue to be fully funded in Academic Year 2023–24. We continue to work with the sector to encourage take-up of the NPQEYL by those employed in PVI settings and also childminders. The recently established Stronger Practice Hubs, regional centres of advice for early years professionals, will play a key role in this. The national NPQ media campaign, which includes social media content tailored to the early years audience, is also helping to raise awareness of the NPQEYL. Communication and engagement with those in the early years sector remains important as we develop our workforce strategy. We currently regularly engage with experts across the sector as part of our policy development and broader stakeholder engagement.