Alliance comments on early years apprenticeship eligibility criteria change

1st July 2015

The Pre-school Learning Alliance has welcomed news that GCSEs will now be an exit, rather than entry, requirement for apprentices undertaking Early Years Educator (EYE) Level 3 qualifications - but is urging the government to review its current stance on equivalent qualifications, as well as eligibility criteria for learners undertaking standalone EYE qualifications.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said:

鈥淲hile the majority of the sector support the intentions behind government鈥檚 drive to improve the qualification levels of the workforce, many practitioners - and in particular, setting managers - were concerned that the previous eligibility criteria had created a serious barrier to entry for otherwise suitable learners. As such, we warmly welcome the news that the existing GCSE requirements for Level 3 apprenticeships will now apply on exit, rather than on entry.

鈥淔ollowing on from this decision, we would urge the government to review its current stance on GCSE equivalents, such as functional skills qualifications, given that the majority of early years employers agree that such qualifications are a valid demonstration of competency in English and maths. A decision not to accept equivalent qualifications is likely to lead to significantly fewer qualified employees in the workforce, at a time when the government is actually looking to expand early years provision in this country.

鈥淎dditionally, the fact that this decision only currently applies to EYE qualifications undertaken as part of an apprenticeship risks creating an unbalanced position where practitioners wanting to undertake an EYE as a standalone course will still be required to have GCSEs on entry. In the interests of fairness and consistency, we would urge the government to reconsider its position on this issue.鈥

For further information or to interview, Neil Leitch, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance please contact:,br/> Shannon Hawthorne
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2503
E: Shannon Hawthorne

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Notes for editors

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  2. Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  3. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website:

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