Early Years Professional Status

EYPS is a professional status for Early Childhood which both acknowledges the expertise of people in the early years sector and provides a professional profile for practitioners to aspire to.

Fully funded places for September 2012 starters are now available.

Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) was introduced by the Government in 2007 and the University of Worcester has been successfully delivering EYPS programmes through a government contract since its inception. The University of Worcester has now been awarded one of only eight prestigious national contracts to continue to deliver Early Years Professional Status training starting in January 2012-2014.

The University is now the lead provider delivery of the Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) programme for Early Years practitioners across the West Midlands and South West regions working in partnership with University of Gloucestershire; University College Plymouth St Mark & St John; Newman University College; and the Somerset Centre for Integrated Learning (SCIL).

Visit our YouTube channel to see more EYPS videos.

Apart from a limited number of government funded places with specific entry criteria, we are delighted to now be able to extend our provision to a wider pool of applicants who may not be eligible for funding but who wish to self-fund. With the government’s limitation on available places, being able to self-fund, perhaps with employer support, is a very positive development and which we are sure will be very popular in the sector where the demand for places is high.

According to all the evidence, children experiencing disadvantage have the most to gain from high quality early years services. EYPs are key to meeting the needs of these children and to leading and modeling excellent day to day practice within maintained, voluntary, private and independent early years settings.

At the University of Worcester we support this notion of early childhood professionalism and celebrate the need to develop an early years workforce recognised for the highly skilled and expert provision that can be offered to children and their families.

All programmes subject to TDA or CWDC funding or requirements are subject to government changes.

Further information about EYPS is available on the CWDC website, including EYPS explained, details about graduate leaders in early years and routes to EYPS.

Download an application form.
Download the application guidance notes.

Factfile
Entry requirements
Course content
Student views
Useful Links

What is an Early Years Professional?

Every child deserves the best possible start in life. It is imperative that in the first years of a child’s life they are provided with excellent care and education in early years settings to support their development and allow them to achieve their full potential.

Research from the Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) project has shown that the best way of ensuring this is achieved is by having a graduate-led workforce who have extensive knowledge and experience of how children learn and develop in the early years.

Early Years Professionals (EYPs) work in a wide range of roles in private, voluntary, maintained or independent group settings such as schools, nurseries, children's centres and as home based child carers. They lead practice, support other practitioners and are central to helping children develop from birth until the age of five, a crucial time in a child's life. EYPs may also be employed by local authorities as mentor teachers or advisors.

EYPS is based on evidencing personal professional leadership qualities and practice as well as the knowledge and understanding required to support effective, high quality provision for babies, toddlers and young children.

EYPS candidates are assessed against national standards which include consideration of legislation; research and policy guidance; effective practice; building relationships with children; working in partnership with parents; teamwork and collaboration; and personal professional development.

The assessment process very much focuses on the candidate's personal attributes, skills and knowledge that are being put into action, in the setting in which they are practicing, to maintain high quality child care and education to support children’s well being and development.

Study options

For more information on available pathways please see the Entry Requirements tab, or contact us.

Graduate Practitioner Pathway (6 Months)

Undergraduate Practitioner Pathway (12 Months)

Graduate Entry Pathway (12 Months)

Undergraduate Entry Pathway (18 months from level 5 of a BA Hons degree)

NB Government funded places available for a limited number of eligible applicants. In addition self funding applicants, including those funded by employers or Local Authorities are welcome to apply.

Get in touch

Sue Baylis
Institute of Education - Centre for Early Childhood
01905 85 5571
s.baylis@worc.ac.uk

EYPS Course Administrator
01905 54 2049
eyps@worc.ac.uk

Candidates for all pathways are required to have GCSE English and Maths at C or above (or equivalent) before starting the programme. The University of Worcester offers equivalency testing for Maths and English. For further details please contact the Admissions department on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk

Graduate Practitioner Pathway (6 Months)

This pathway is intended for early years graduates who work within a registered early years setting, have a broad experience of the sector and whose practice reflects most of the requirements of the 39 EYPS standards.

Within this route you have a you work in partnership with staff at the University to develop a personal learning plan to support you in developing your skills and knowledge to give you the opportunity of meeting the requirements of the 39 EYPS standards required to complete your EYPS pathway.

Undergraduate Practitioner Pathway (12 Months)

This pathway is intended for early years workers who hold a Foundation degree (or equivalent level 5 qualification), work within a registered early years setting, and have experience within the early years sector, but who do not hold a full honours degree.

Within this route you spend the 12 months attending the University for one day each week, working towards gaining relevant degree modules to the value of 60 level 6 credits. Alongside this you have additional tutorial support to prepare you for your EYPS Assessment.

On completion of EYPS most students take up the opportunity to self-fund four modules to gain a complete honours degree.

Graduate Entry Pathway (12 Months)

This pathway is specifically designed for career changers: those people who have a first degree outside of early years, have never been employed within the early years sector and who are ‘new comers’ to the early years workforce.

If you are looking for a career change, or are already working towards your career change into early childhood, then this could be the route for you to become part of the early years workforce.

Your programme will be composed of 18 weeks placement experience and 18 weeks study under the direction and guidance of University lecturers. During this time you will be given the opportunity to gain a postgraduate certificate in Early Childhood Studies. This pathway attracts a £3,500 bursary.

Undergraduate Entry Pathway (18 months from level 5 of a BA hons degree)

This pathway is specifically designed for Undergraduates completing a degree in Early Childhood Studies. The pathway is interwoven with the degree programme in the second year of studies and includes 18 weeks placement experience.

This pathway attracts a £3,500 bursary.

Modules

Undergraduate Practitioner Pathway (12 Months)

On completion of EYPS most students take up the opportunity to self-fund four modules to gain a complete honours degree.

Graduate Entry Pathway (12 Months)

If you are looking for a career change, or are already working towards your career change into early childhood, then this could be the route for you to become part of the early years workforce.

Graduate Practitioner Pathway (6 Months)

Undergraduate Entry Pathway (18 months from level 5 of a BA hons degree)

This pathway attracts a £3,500 bursary.

Assessment

What is the assessment process?

Following your initial assessment and choice of pathway you will have an opportunity to develop your understanding and skills relevant to the standards required of an Early Years Practitioner, to the point where you are eligible to progress towards achievement.

Regardless of which pathway you choose, all candidates will go through the same assessment process:

Review of your skills.
Written tasks which express your experiences of early years practice.
Assessment visit in your early years setting.

This process ensures consistency across training providers for candidates and provides an effective way of moderating the results.

Academic department

Institute of Education

“Our high quality programmes and innovative teaching methods prepare and train the very best professionals. Worcester graduates have made a huge difference in the field of education.”
Professor Chris Robertson, Head of Institute

Employability

Every child deserves the very best care and education and the first five years of life are critical in children's development. High quality early years provision is important to help children achieve their potential, working in partnership with parents and families. Such a level of provision requires a highly motivated and well-trained workforce who like and want to be with children.

Early Years Professionals will have evidenced that they are innovative, reflective, and practical, with commitment and drive to improve outcomes for all children and raise the quality of early years provision. You will have evidenced that you have leadership skills and personal qualities able to influence changes in practice. You will be able to raise expectations, whilst supporting others to achieve their potential.

Early Years Professional Status is a new status and awareness and recognition is still building. In time it is expected that as an Early Years Professional you will gain the recognition you deserve and have the satisfaction of knowing that others understand your level of knowledge and understanding. You will also significantly enhance your career development prospects as EYPS may open the door to diverse opportunities for leadership and management in a range of early years settings. Former students have moved on to such roles as:

Leading practice in nurseries, daycare settings, and nursery classes.
Private Sector nursery management.
Quality enhancement or advisory roles with the local authority.
Family support work with Children’s Centres.
Supporting in nursery classes.

Children's Workforce Development Council - Early Years [External]

Every Child Matters [External]

Sure Start [External]

Department for Children, Schools and Families - Publications [External]

Children's Workforce Development Council - Common Core [External]

Foundation Stage Forum
This site provides lots of information relating to all aspects of working within the early years

Worcestershire Early Years and Childcare Services
The service provides support for early years and childcare settings in the county and the Family Information Service, which is part of the Early Years and Childcare Service, provides information for families so that parents can make informed decisions for their children.

Hereford Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership
Herefordshire Early Years and Extended Services is committed to making life better for children, parents and communities by bringing together. We aim to create a working partnership between various providers and users of early years care and education. It brings together people from all private, voluntary and independent sectors, relevant agencies and the local authority.

Sandwell Children’s services directory
The directory helps match people to the services they need and supports professionals in making appropriate referrals.

Warwickshire Children, Young People and Families Directorate
Warwickshire Children, Young People and Families Directorate supports education for early years, school children and adults. As part of the County Council, we are 'a learning county committed to excellence'.

Solihull Children & Young People's Trust
Solihull One Voice is the official website of Solihull Children and Young People’s Trust and is a way of communicating news and accessing information on a range of services and resources for parents, carers and professionals in Solihull

Shropshire Early Years and Childcare
You can find out about the work of Early Years and Childcare Team. There are many aspects covered by the team including training, development and support for existing and potential childcare providers, as well as Shropshire Children's Information Service for those looking for childcare and children and young people's services. Please use the menu to find out more about the various services.

Birmingham Children’s Young People and Families – Foundation Stage
Here you will find links from all over the bgfl Portal. You can browse through the links or you can search for something in particular: simply enter your key words and click ‘Search’

Birmingham Grid for Learning
Children, Young People and Families is the service in Birmingham dedicated to delivering the five outcomes identified in the Children Act 2004

Dudley Children’s services
The directorate of children’s services is the part of the Council with lead responsibility for services to children and young people.
The Directorate is focused on improving the outcomes for all children and young people in Dudley. Our work is based on the framework within the Children’s Act 2004 and Every Child Matters – Change for Children incorporating five key outcomes.

Gloucestershire Children and Young People's Services
The Children and Young People's Directorate is responsible for all services relating to children, young people and their families, and replaces the former Education Directorate and the Children's Services aspects of Social Services. We are part of Gloucestershire County Council, and our main office is at Shire Hall in Gloucester