Do Early Years Educators need GCSEs in Maths and English?
Since 1 September 2014, staff who hold the Early Years Educator qualification must also have achieved grade C or above in GCSE English and Maths. This requirement was introduced following an independent review by Professor Cathy Nutbrown in 2012. This report highlighted the importance of early years staff having appropriate numeracy and literacy skills.
However, some employers in the early years sector have reported that the new requirements have made retention and recruitment of staff more difficult. As a result of this, the Government has decided to revisit the GCSE requirement and launched a consultation on the matter.
The purpose of this consultation is “to inform a Government decision on how the requirement could be adjusted to ensure that people with the knowledge, skills and appropriate qualifications to perform a level 3 role can enter the sector, whilst also putting them in the best position from which to progress through their careers”.
Some of the key questions that the Government is asking in this consultation are:
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What impact has the GCSE requirement had on recruitment and retention of Early Years Educators in your setting?
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What Maths and English skills and knowledge do staff need to perform at level 3 Early Years Educator level?
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What level 2 literacy and numeracy qualification requirements are most appropriate for level 3 staff?
SCHOOLS NorthEast believes that early years education plays a vital role in our schools system, helping children to develop the skills that they need to be successful throughout their school career and beyond. In recognition of this, we will be submitting a response to this consultation on behalf of our region’s schools.
We would like to hear your views on the GCSE requirement, to ensure that our consultation response reflects the views and experiences of North East early years providers. If you would like to contribute to our response, please contact our Policy Officer Tom Sedgwick either via email (t.sedgwick@schoolsnortheast.com) or by calling 0191 204 8866.
If you have strong views on this issue, we would also encourage you to submit your own response to the consultation, which you can do through the Department for Education Consultation Hub. However, please bear in mind that this consultation is only open very briefly and closes on 28 November.