Overview
The first five years of a child's life are the most important in their development when they learn to build relationships and to deal with the world around them.
Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) is the only professional accreditation of its kind in the early years sector endorsed by Government and recognises graduate practitioners who have the skills to lead high quality early years practice. Being an Early Years Professional (EYP) is a huge responsibility and, at the same time, one of the most rewarding jobs there is.
Early Years Professional Status helps you to:
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Enhance your children’s play, care and learning
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Improve your professional abilities
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Develop the standards of your setting
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Build your leadership skills
There are certain attributes that distinguish the role of an EYP whatever their working context:
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The first is that they are reflective practitioners
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The second is that they lead and support colleagues in order to effect change and improve outcomes for children.
Research has shown that the quality of early years provision is higher in those settings that employ more graduate-trained staff. High quality early years provision has been shown to benefit children, particularly those who are disadvantaged.
UCS is delivering EYPS as part of the Early Years East Consortium (EYE), led by the Eastern Leadership Centre (ELC) and alongside Pen Green, the University of East Anglia and the University of Hertfordshire. Our academic staff:
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Understand the day-to-day pressures you face
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Deliver high academic quality in a practical way
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Have a first-class reputation
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Are local people with national skills and experience
Benefits
EYPS gives you a recognised professional status as a leader in one of the most demanding, challenging and rewarding areas of education. But people who have achieved EYPS with UCS tell us that they get far more from the experience.
“I am really proud of my achievement. It was intensive and challenging but I learnt a lot as I researched and considered my responses to the tasks. Sally provided support while encouraging me to find my own answers. I also found the group sessions stimulating and the friendships I have made will stay with me both personally and professionally.” - Irene Greenfield
“I very much enjoyed completing my EYPS and found the support from Sally and my peers invaluable. Becoming an Early Years Professional has opened many doors and I feel proud to have gained recognition of my early years experience. The opportunity to reflect on my professional practice and engage with other practitioners was a very valuable experience and has provided me with a great insight into the early years profession”. - Sarah Brown
“I am very happy to have been given the opportunity to achieve EYPS. Even though at times it was a struggle, I found talking to my fellow students and tutor a great help. I feel very proud of myself and all my fellow EYPs- they were brilliant! I only wish I could have spent more time with them”. Helen Goddard
EYPS graduate Marie Shakespeare talks about her experiences of the course in the video below:
To read a text transcript of the video click here.|
Content and Modules
There are various different pathways to gain EYPS depending on your individual circumstances, your experience and your qualifications. The pathways are offered at UCS with start dates in January and September. Whatever your background and experience there will be an appropriate pathway to suit you, so we are more than happy to advise and help you plan the best route to attaining EYPS.
The Graduate Practitioner Pathway (GPP) – 6 months (part time)
This pathway is for graduates currently working in the sector who require a small amount of learning or experience before they can demonstrate the EYPS standards.
The Undergraduate Practitioner Pathway (UPP) – 12 months (part time)
This pathway is designed for a current employee working in the sector with a Level 5 qualification.
The Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP) – 12 months (full time)
This pathway is for people with a degree and limited experience of working with children from birth to five but who are looking to pursue a career working in early years.
The Undergraduate Entry Pathway (UEP) – 12 months (full time)
This pathway is designed for undergraduates completing a degree in Early Childhood Studies.
Further Information
Funding
Candidates meeting the relevant eligibility, entry and quality requirements may qualify for funded places (subject to CRB and interview). Funded places will be allocated on the basis of areas of disadvantage and under-represented groups.
Any candidate wishing to embark on a CWDC funded Practitioner Pathway must be working in an eligible setting. Eligible settings are:
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A setting on the Early Years Register
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A nursery school
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An independent school that delivers the Early Years Foundation Stage
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Maintained setting that delivers the Early Years Foundation Stage i.e. a nursery school or maintained school with a reception class
From January 2012, self funding candidates will be able to undertake EYPS Pathways. A self funding candidate is an individual whose EYPS Pathway is not paid for by CWDC and is funded from an alternative source (e.g. their employer, a sponsor or the candidate themselves).
There are no setting eligibility criteria for self funded candidates but entry and quality requirements must be met.
Contact us
Early Years Professional Status training and assessment is provided by UCS as part of the Early Years East Consortium (EYE), led by the Eastern Leadership Centre (ELC).
For more information about EYPS and the application process please contact the ELC via email earlyyearselc-cambridge.org|
For local enquiries please contact the UCS team directly by telephone 01473 338494 or email eypsadminucs.ac.uk|
How to apply
To register your interest in EYPS and request an application form, please contact the Eastern Leadership Centre (ELC): earlyyearselc-cambridge.org|
For further information please follow the links below: