Alliance expresses concern over early years educator entry requirements

25th February 2014

The Pre-school Learning Alliance has criticised the government’s decision not to accept functional skills as equivalents to GCSEs in the entry requirements for early years educator (EYE) qualifications.

The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) today confirmed that, as of September 2014, all Skills Funding Agency-funded EYE training courses will require entrants to hold GCSEs in mathematics and English at grade C or above.

Commenting on the announcement, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said:

“While it is of course vital to ensure that all early years practitioners have a good level of literacy and numeracy, the government’s refusal to recognise functional skills qualifications as valid equivalents to GCSEs is extremely short-sighted. Such a move is likely to deter many prospective applicants who have the skills, passion and knowledge needed to be excellent early years practitioners from pursuing careers in the sector, simply because they do not meet a set of very narrow criteria.”

“It’s worth noting that in her Foundations for Quality report, Professor Cathy Nutbrown recommended that Level 2 - not GCSE — English and mathematics should be entry requirements to Level 3 early years courses, and advised that the NCTL should ‘take views on whether GCSEs should be the minimum requirement, or whether other Level 2 qualifications should be accepted to demonstrate literacy and mathematical skills’.

“Unsurprisingly, the sector was never actually consulted on this. Many of those who responded to the government consultation on the proposed EYE qualification criteria raised concerns about these entry requirements in their responses, but these were dismissed for being ‘out of the scope’ of the consultation.”

Neil also criticised the government’s decision to introduce the changes with no transitional or preparatory phase.

“Given that it is not possible for trainees to study for the required GCSEs while undertaking an EYE qualification, it’s disappointing that the NCTL has chosen to make this announcement a mere six months before it intends to implement these changes. These plans could have a seriously destabilising impact on the sector so it is deeply concerning that the government has seen fit to rush ahead with them without fully considering the likely consequences.”

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Notes for editors

  2. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  3. 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.
  4. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website:

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