ニュース
2011年12月16日
The University of East Anglia has been awarded a contract to deliver training for nursery, childcare and pre-school professionals from January 2012.
It will benefit from a share of a £3.4 million pot to provide the only Government-endorsed accreditation for working with children under five - Early Years Professional Status (EYPS).
The contract means that the university will be able to provide fully-funded graduate-level courses with no tuition fees. Places are still available for courses starting in January and bursaries of £3,500 are also available to help some students with their living costs.
The news comes after the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) announced funding for an additional 1,700 places across the country– including places at UEA.
But potential students are advised to apply quickly before missing out on the opportunity for funded places, as the deadline for the January 2012 intake is January 12.
Courses for both practising professionals and graduates entering the profession are delivered by the university’sSchool of Education and Lifelong Learning.
There are four routes to gaining the flagship EYPS qualification - depending on the students’ level of experience.
They range from a six-month part-time course for very experienced graduates, to 12 months full and part-time courses which include longer training placements. A year-long full-time course for graduates new to the profession is also available.
The university is one of four training bodies in the east to be awarded the £3.4 million contract by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) and the Department for Education (DfE).
Course leader Gillian Preece said: “EYPS gives both practitioners and those new to the profession a recognised professional status as a leader in one of the most demanding, challenging and rewarding areas of education.
“Early Years Professionals have a direct and profound effect on the lives of young children, laying the foundations for their future learning and helping them interact with the world around them.
“Graduates are choosing the sector because it offers really good prospects and is now recognised as an integral part of the education profession, alongside teachers.”
The contract to deliver the programme is the result of a competitive bid from the university, working in close partnership with its three consortium partners in Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Suffolk.
The consortium, Early Years East, is responsible for providing training and EYPS assessment across the East of England. The contract will allow 490 new entrants to the programme from January to ensure the region has a thorough resource of well-qualified early years practitioners.
Grant Bage, chief executive of the consortium’s lead partner Eastern Leadership Centre, said: “We are proud to lead a consortium of such experienced and highly-regarded educational establishments.
“The University of East Anglia in particular has a wealth of experience delivering early years workforce training and qualifications. This is an important and valuable programme that makes a real difference to the quality of children’s lives.”
Deirdre Quill, director of Early Years and Sector Leadership at CWDC, said “This new training intake is a fantastic opportunity for all those currently working with very young children or considering a career in the early years, to access an exciting and innovative accreditation scheme, improve your skills and gain the only professional status for the early year’s sector. Don’t miss your opportunity to apply today.”
Nick Mellish (pictured), 25, undertook a full-time EYPS course in 2009 after finishing an MA in English Literature. He now works at Sure Start’s East City and Framingham Earl Children's Centre.
He said: “I had been thinking about going into primary teaching and when I saw the opportunity of doing the EYPS course I thought it would be very good experience. I really enjoyed the course and quickly realised that this was definitely the career for me.
“After finishing the course I got onto a list of bank staff, and within about four months I got an interview with Sure Start. I started at East City and Framingham Earl Children's Centre last year, and I absolutely love it. I hope I will be working there for many years to come!”
The contract means that the university will be able to provide fully-funded graduate-level courses with no tuition fees. Places are still available for courses starting in January and bursaries of £3,500 are also available to help some students with their living costs.
The news comes after the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) announced funding for an additional 1,700 places across the country– including places at UEA.
But potential students are advised to apply quickly before missing out on the opportunity for funded places, as the deadline for the January 2012 intake is January 12.
Courses for both practising professionals and graduates entering the profession are delivered by the university’sSchool of Education and Lifelong Learning.
There are four routes to gaining the flagship EYPS qualification - depending on the students’ level of experience.
They range from a six-month part-time course for very experienced graduates, to 12 months full and part-time courses which include longer training placements. A year-long full-time course for graduates new to the profession is also available.
The university is one of four training bodies in the east to be awarded the £3.4 million contract by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) and the Department for Education (DfE).
Course leader Gillian Preece said: “EYPS gives both practitioners and those new to the profession a recognised professional status as a leader in one of the most demanding, challenging and rewarding areas of education.
“Early Years Professionals have a direct and profound effect on the lives of young children, laying the foundations for their future learning and helping them interact with the world around them.
“Graduates are choosing the sector because it offers really good prospects and is now recognised as an integral part of the education profession, alongside teachers.”
The contract to deliver the programme is the result of a competitive bid from the university, working in close partnership with its three consortium partners in Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Suffolk.
The consortium, Early Years East, is responsible for providing training and EYPS assessment across the East of England. The contract will allow 490 new entrants to the programme from January to ensure the region has a thorough resource of well-qualified early years practitioners.
Grant Bage, chief executive of the consortium’s lead partner Eastern Leadership Centre, said: “We are proud to lead a consortium of such experienced and highly-regarded educational establishments.
“The University of East Anglia in particular has a wealth of experience delivering early years workforce training and qualifications. This is an important and valuable programme that makes a real difference to the quality of children’s lives.”
Deirdre Quill, director of Early Years and Sector Leadership at CWDC, said “This new training intake is a fantastic opportunity for all those currently working with very young children or considering a career in the early years, to access an exciting and innovative accreditation scheme, improve your skills and gain the only professional status for the early year’s sector. Don’t miss your opportunity to apply today.”
Nick Mellish (pictured), 25, undertook a full-time EYPS course in 2009 after finishing an MA in English Literature. He now works at Sure Start’s East City and Framingham Earl Children's Centre.He said: “I had been thinking about going into primary teaching and when I saw the opportunity of doing the EYPS course I thought it would be very good experience. I really enjoyed the course and quickly realised that this was definitely the career for me.
“After finishing the course I got onto a list of bank staff, and within about four months I got an interview with Sure Start. I started at East City and Framingham Earl Children's Centre last year, and I absolutely love it. I hope I will be working there for many years to come!”