Early Years Professional Status

Child playing

Who is it for?

EYPS is awarded to people who can demonstrate that they meet a set of national graduate level Early Years Professional standards when working with children from birth to five. Early Years Professionals are key to raising the quality of early years provision. They are ‘change agents’ to improve practice. They will lead practice across the Early Years Foundation Stage, support and mentor other practitioners and model the skills and behaviours that safeguard and support children.

Course Details - Click to show

  • The Validation Pathway: for very experienced practitioners who hold a degree. This part- time pathway takes 4 months
  • The Short Pathway: for those with a degree and some experience. This part-time pathway followed by validation takes 6 months
  • Long EPD Pathway: for those with a Foundation Degree this is a part-time top-up to BA Hons in Early Years followed by validation. This pathway is also available for those with a degree but with little experience in working in the Early Years sector and need additional training and development to underpin their knowledge and understanding of child development and the EYFS. This pathway takes 15 months.
  • The Full Pathway: for graduates with very limited experience with 0-5 year olds. This is a full time 12 month course (one day per week at University and four days per week on placement). We are now enrolling for the next programme starting in September 2010.

The Candidate Registration: Self-assessment questionnaire will guide candidates towards the most appropriate pathway and can be found at http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/projects/eypcandidates.htm


Qualifications

EYPS is a recognisable status equivalent to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). It is not a qualification it is a new status that will recognise your expertise as a practitioner and a professional leader.

Assessment

There are no exams. Final assessment is in the form of a setting visit and completion of written tasks.

Entry requirements

EYPS applicants for the Validation and Short Pathways have to hold an Early Years or relevant equivalent degree and GCSE English and Maths (grades A-C). Applicants for the Long Pathway may have a Foundation Degree in Early Years or an unrelated degree but have Early Years experience.

EYPS applicants for the Full Pathway have to hold a degree in any discipline.

CETAD can offer help for those who need to obtain English and/or Maths GCSE.

For those not holding a degree CETAD can offer a Foundation Degree in Early Years with a top up to BA Hons in Early Years with EYPS.

Fees

All EYPS training pathways are fully funded. For candidates currently working in private, voluntary and independent early years settings, your employers may receive support with supply cover. Contact us for further details. Candidates on the Full Pathway receive a bursary.

How to Apply?

Contact CETAD on 01524 593318 or email cetad@lancaster.ac.uk

Case Studies

The Workshops were just a joy to attend as they were so informative and provided us with so much information that we could take back with us and use in our settings.

Janet Weeks
 - Early Years Professional Status

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