October 2014 update

New MAS code for Early Years Educator (EYE)

MAS07716 - Children and Young People's Workforce (Early Learning and Childcare) Advanced Apprenticeships (England) (SASE)

The new EYE qualifications will be part of the new Trailblazer Apprenticeship Standards, which won't be ready until 2015.

To avoid a gap in provision, the EYE qualification will be added to the SASE Apprenticeship framework. Learners will be required to complete the following to gain their Apprenticeship:

• Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Diploma in Children's Learning and Development (Early Years Educator)
• GCSE English and Maths at grade C or above. The SASE requirement, of a GCSE achieved before September 2012 and within the 5 years prior to starting an Apprenticeship, still applies while this Apprenticeship sits on the SASE framework
• ICT Functional Skills
• ERR - Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award in Employment Responsibilities and Rights for Health and Social Care or Children and Young People's Settings.
  

In 2015, the EYE Apprenticeship will be removed from the SASE framework and replaced with the Trailblazer Apprenticeship Standards. Learners on the SASE framework will not have to transfer across to the new Apprenticeship and won't be disadvantaged by remaining on the SASE Apprenticeship.

Important information about the EYE SASE framework requirement

Publication of the new Early Years Apprenticeship standards

Trailblazers have been developing new Apprenticeship standards and, in August, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) published standards for a range of sectors. This includes a new Early Years Educator Apprenticeship standard.

The requirements for Apprenticeships for the early education and childcare sector are as follows:

• The current Children and Young People's Workforce Advanced Apprenticeship framework has been revised from 1 September 2014. The framework includes the new Early Years Educator qualification and will require learners to achieve GCSEs in English and Maths at grade C or above on exit.
• An Early Years Educator Apprenticeship standard will be available for delivery during 2015. It will supersede the Children and Young People's Workforce Advanced Apprenticeship framework. This standard will also require GCSEs in English and Maths at grade C or above on exit.

This is a transitional arrangement and, from 1 August 2016, English and Maths GCSEs at grade C or above will be required on entry for Apprenticeships in the early education and childcare sector.

These requirements do not apply to learners who are not taking an Apprenticeship. GCSE English and Maths will still be required on entry for stand-alone Early Years Educator qualifications.

Early Years Educator assignments

The Pearson assignments for units 1 and 7 of the Level 3 Diploma for Children's Learning and Development (Early Years Educator) are now available on our website. These assignments may be used or adapted; however, if they are adapted, they must be signed off by the Standards Verifier before use.

Centres do not have to use these assignments, but can develop their own centre-devised material. Any material developed by a centre must be signed off by their Standards Verifier.

New residential childcare qualifications

We're in the process of developing 2 new Work Based Learning qualifications for residential childcare in collaboration with the DfE, Sector Skills Council and other awarding organisations.

They are:

• Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England)
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England).
  

Each qualification has mandatory units, which set out the under-pinning principles of residential care. The optional units then add breadth, allowing learners to contextualise their learning to fit their job role.

The level 3 qualification will replace the Social Care pathway in the Children and Young People's Workforce qualification for learners who work in residential childcare from January 2015.

Paediatric first aid and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In the recent changes to EYFS, it stated that paediatric first aid qualifications and training need to be taken through St John Ambulance or Red Cross. This is not the case.

The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) confirms that a document on the GOV.UK website reiterates the requirements set out in the EYFS, namely that early years providers are not obliged to buy their training from St John Ambulance or the Red Cross and that the EYFS does not require the inclusion of first aid for adults in paediatric first aid training courses. In that document, you are also directed to the Health and Safety Executive’s guidance on selecting training providers and the Register of Regulated Qualifications.

The document published on the GOV.UK website, alongside the 2014 EYFS, has now been included in a ‘clarification note’ at the end of the EYFS itself on page 34.

We'll be offering the new level 3 qualification from 1 October 2014.

Children and Young People’s Workforce (CYPW) qualifications

The Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (CYPW) is being extended until 31 December 2016. When this qualification is extended, we will be removing the 2 Paediatric First Aid units which expired on 31 August 2014. Learners will still need to gain a total of 2 credits, which will be made up from additional optional units. From 1 September 2014, to achieve the Level 2 CYPW qualification, learners must achieve 35 credits from the 29 mandatory units and a further 6 credits from the optional units.

The Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (CYPW) is being extended until 31 December 2016. When this qualification is extended, we will be removing the Early Years and Childcare pathway only. This pathway will be replaced by the new EYE qualification.

The Social Care and Learning, Development and Support Services pathways are being extended until 31 December 2016.

We're currently working with the Department for Education (DfE) and the Sector Skills Council, Skills for Care and Development, to develop a new qualification for children’s residential care. This should be available in early 2015 and will replace the current Level 3 CYPW Social Care pathway. 

Children and Young People's Workforce (CYPW) Apprenticeships

The current Level 2 CYPW framework will remain the same. Learners will need to achieve the following:

• Pearson Edexcel Level 2 Certificate for Children and Young People’s Workforce 
  or
  Pearson EDI Level 2 Certificate for Children and Young People’s Workforce 
• ICT English, Maths and ICT Functional Skills
• ERR:
  Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award in Employment Responsibilities and Rights for Health and Social Care or Children and Young People’s Settings
  or
  Pearson EDI Level 2 Award in Employment Responsibilities and Rights for Health and Social Care or Children and Young People’s Settings.
  

The current Level 3 CYPW framework will change. Learners on the Early Years pathway will need to complete the EYE requirements (see above). Learners on the Social Care pathway will need to complete the following:

• Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Diploma for Children and Young People’s Workforce (Social Care pathway only)
  or
  Pearson EDI Level 3 Diploma for Children and Young People’s Workforce (Social Care pathway only)
• ICT English, Maths and ICT Functional Skills
• ERR:
  Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award in Employment Responsibilities and Rights for Health and Social Care or Children and Young People’s Settings
  or
  Pearson EDI Level 2 Award in Employment Responsibilities and Rights for Health and Social Care or Children and Young People’s Settings.