It's not just child's play

UNLIKE nursing or teaching, those seeking a career in child care and wanting to gain qualifications have been confronted with a bewildering range of choices and routes. And some workers have discovered that their qualifications were not worth the piece of paper they were written on. As part of its expansion and review of child care, the government last autumn introduced a climbing frame of nationally recognised qualifications.

A survey carried out in 1998 revealed that there were a staggering 1,600-1,800 qualifications on offer in the early years sector, which covers everything from mother and toddler groups in church halls to purpose-built day nurseries. Unfortunately many of these awards carried little credibility, having been devised by individuals or organisations who jumped out of bed with a bright idea one morning and then jumped straight on to the training band wagon.

But even those qualifications that were of a high standard would not be necessarily recognised across the board, reveals Savita Aylng, director of The Early Years National Training Organisation, an independent body which, among other things, helped in the government's streamlining of early years qualifications.

"The reality is that you could work in Barnet with a locally designed qualification and then apply for a job next door in Enfield and find that your qualification is not recognised. This is because you might have received a certificate after a short training course that had not been accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority."

The government's Child Care Framework, launched last September, has begun to streamline child care qualifications, create more visible routes and put an end to the confusion and disappointments, she claims optimistically. "It will take at least two or three years for this framework to be fully built. There are old qualifications that are still being assessed and new ones that are being developed. At the end of it all we shouldn't have more than 30 qualifications."

Under the government's new National Occupational Standards, certificates and diplomas are now being graded between levels 1-4 and replacing qualifications such as the Certificate in Practical Child Care and Infant Skills and the Child Development Certificate. The old NNEB, for example, is now called the Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education.

These revamped qualifications are awarded by accredited bodies such as City and Guilds, Edexcel, the Open University and CACHE (the Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education). Each body places a different emphasis on certain aspects of their course.

"The purest form of National Occupational Standards is the NVQ. If you're a playgroup assistant you are looking at a level 2. If you're a manager in a nursery or supervising staff, you are looking at level 3. And if you are managing more than one nursery you're looking at level 4," explains Savita, adding that it is now possible to have old qualifications such as NNEB taken into account when studying for, say, an NVQ.

She would advise those contemplating exchanging their present career for one in child care to consider an orientation programme, such as The Early Years National Training Organisation's Making Choices.

"If someone wants a career with young children they could work as a nanny, a child minder, in a playgroup, an adventure playground, an out of school club or in a day nursery. Our course helps people to find out what is right for them by talking to employers and those working with under-fives."

While qualifications are not essential to work with the under- fives, the introduction in some areas of the sector of early learning goals and Ofsted inspections means that workers need to acquire a broader range of skills than before, points out Julia Eldridge who co- manages the Cator Park Pre-School in Bromley.

"Gone are the days when you did a bit of Playdough, read a story and then Mum came and picked the child up. We are now providing an education. You've got to be able to do a bit of everything. You need good admin skills as you have to be able to write reports and incorporate the curriculum into your activities."

WORKING with babies and children isn't easy. Patience, commitment, creativity, and excellent management and organisational skills are required.

And you need to be able to handle several tasks at once.

* The work-based National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) provide a qualification framework. Level 2 NVQs are for those working in supervised roles, level 3 are for those in a supervisory role and level 4 are aimed at managers of large nurseries.

* The Department for Education and Employment have a free helpline for those thinking of a career in early years: 0800-996600.

* The Early Years National Training Organisation (01727 738300/ www.early-years-nto.org.uk) runs a 15-hour orientation programme to help people decide if child care is the right career choice.

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