Alliance criticises Early Years Educator entry requirement inconsistencies

20th August 2014

The Pre-school Learning Alliance has called for greater consistency on Early Years Educator entry requirements following confirmation that, while GCSE Maths and English will be a requirement on completion - rather than entry - of the Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Standard until August 2015, they will remain an entry requirement for current standalone Early Years Educator qualifications.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said:

鈥淲hile we welcome the decision to make GCSEs an exit requirement for the coming year for the Early Years Educator Apprenticeship programme, we are extremely disappointed that this change has not been extended across the board.

鈥淪uch an inconsistent approach will put trainees who have chosen to undertake a standalone EYE qualification at a real disadvantage, and is likely to deter many potential practitioners from applying. What鈥檚 more, given that the entry criteria for these courses were only confirmed in February, these trainees have had insufficient time to study for the required GCSEs and so many of those who might have chosen to gain these qualifications in order to begin Early Years Educator courses this year will have been unable to do so.

鈥淲e would urge the Department for Education to work closely with colleagues in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to try and resolve these inconsistencies as a matter of priority, and ensure that all potential applicants have an equal opportunity to gain the qualifications they need to establish a career in the early years.鈥

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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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