Maths and English requirements causing huge hurdles for childcare workers
There have been many changes to the level of skills required by early year’s workers over the past years with much of the focus being on upskilling the workforce. Some of these changes have included the introduction of further courses such as foundations degrees and degrees, the removal of the level four qualifications, the number of qualified practitioners allowed per room. One of the most recent and significant changes was in 2014. The government decided to push the skills of the early year’s workforce by introducing a minimum requirement. This has meant that all practitioners wishing to study at level 3 or above must have a ‘C’ grade in both their maths and English G.C.S.E’s.
At the time this was first discussed there were concerns from many who work specialise in the early year’s sector that it would cause restrictions and limit those who apply for positions in childcare and on childcare courses. The government, however, saw it as a way to ensure the workforce was upskilled and went ahead and made the changes.
The importance of highly qualified practitioners has been highlighted by many early years advocates through various studies and pieces of research, however, introducing the new requirements has had almost the opposite effect and instead of ensuring practitioners are highly skilled it has prevented many practitioners upskilling further or completing the level 3 qualification altogether.
This has caused a huge shortage in early years workers and has caused many problems for those already working as early years practitioners. Some highly skilled practitioners who gained their level 3 qualifications before the introduction of the minimum requirement have been prevented from further upskilling if they haven’t got their maths and English ‘C’ grades even though they have managed to complete a course a higher level already. Many of these practitioners have completed separate level 2/ G.C.S.E equivalent courses such as functional skills in math and English again displaying their competence. However, this is not being accepted as an equivalent, and it was again leading to this barrier to upskilling.
The government is being called to carefully reconsider the minimum requirements as it appears to be creating too much of a large barrier to upskilling and gaining fresh new talent into the early year’s sector.