Nutbrown Review of Qualifications

Not a rant this time, just the links to the pdf of the report, and to the DoE webpage on the review which also has other useful links.

Here are the nineteen recommendations:

Recommendation 1

The Government should continue to specify the qualifications that are suitable for staff operating within the EYFS, and the Teaching Agency should develop a more robust set of ‘full and relevant’ criteria to ensure qualifications promote the right content and pedagogical processes. These criteria should be based on the proposals set out in this report.

Recommendation 2

All qualifications commenced from 1 September 2013 must demonstrate that they meet the new ‘full and relevant’ criteria when being considered against the requirements of the EYFS.

Recommendation 3

The previously articulated plan to move to a single early years qualification should be abandoned.

Recommendation 4

The Government should consider the best way to badge qualifications that meet the new ‘full and relevant’ criteria so that people can recognise under what set of ‘full and relevant’ criteria a qualification has been gained.

Recommendation 5

The EYFS requirements should be revised so that, by September 2022, all staff counting in the staff:child ratios must be qualified at level 3.

Recommendation 6

The EYFS requirements should be revised so that, from September 2013, a minimum of 50 per cent of staff in group settings need to possess at least a ‘full and relevant’ level 3 to count in the staff:child ratios.

Recommendation 7

The EYFS requirements should be revised so that, from September 2015, a minimum of 70 per cent of staff in group settings need to possess at least a ‘full and relevant’ level 3 to count in the staff:child ratios.

Recommendation 8

Level 2 English and mathematics should be entry requirements to level 3 early education and childcare courses.

Recommendation 9

Tutors should be qualified to a higher level than the course they are teaching.

Recommendation 10

All tutors should have regular continuing professional development and contact with early years settings. Colleges and training providers should allow sufficient time for this.

Recommendation 11

Only settings that are rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted should be able to host students on placement.

Recommendation 12

Colleges and training providers should look specifically at the setting’s ability to offer students high quality placements.

Recommendation 13

The Department for Education should conduct research on the number of BME staff at different qualification levels, and engage with the sector to address any issues identified.

Recommendation 14

Newly qualified practitioners starting in their first employment should have mentoring for at least the first six months. If the setting is rated below ‘Good’, this mentoring should come from outside.

Recommendation 15

A suite of online induction and training modules should be brought together by the Government, that can be accessed by everyone working in early education and childcare.

Recommendation 16

A new early years specialist route to QTS, specialising in the years from birth to seven, should be introduced, starting from September 2013.

Recommendation 17

Any individual holding Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) should be able to access routes to obtain QTS as a priority.

Recommendation 18

I recommend that Government considers the best way to maintain and increase graduate pedagogical leadership in all early years settings.

Recommendation 19

I am not recommending that the Government impose a licensing system on the early years sector. However, the Government should consider supporting a sector-led approach, if an affordable and sustainable one emerges with widespread sector support.