WIREDGOV

The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has yesterday announced the start of the next recruitment phase for Early Years Professional Status (EYPS), including publishing details of the organisations responsible for the delivery of the training across England from January 2012.

Over 1,700 CWDC funded candidates will be able to enrol on the next intake of the EYPS training programme which will start in January 2012. Recruitment for this intake is now open. Marking a new development for the programme, training providers will also be able to recruit self-funded or sponsored candidates to the EYPS programme in addition to those recruited with CWDC funding.

Following a competitive tender exercise, eight organisations have been awarded contracts to deliver EYPS across England for the period 2012-15. Each organisation will deliver in identified geographical areas and has an agreed funding allocation for candidate numbers. The majority of the organisations have identified a range of consortia partners across a number of delivery sites, to ensure that training is easy to access for candidates across the country.,

The eight organisations who will lead the delivery of EYPS (with delivery areas in brackets) are:

• Anglia Ruskin University (London, East of England, North East and North West)
• Best Practice Network (South East, London, West Midlands,  Yorkshire & Humber and South West)
• Kingston University (London and South East)
• Manchester Metropolitan University (East Midlands, North West, Yorkshire & Humber, North East)
• Eastern Leadership Centre (East of England)
• University of Northampton (East Midlands)
• University of Chichester (London and South East)
• University of Worcester (South West and West Midlands)

Full contact details for the eight organisations are available on the CWDC website at http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/early-years/eypsproviders

The 1,700 new entrants to the programme in January will join the growing family of over 8,300 trained and accredited EYPs and the 1,800 candidates currently undertaking training.

Future intakes will run from January 2012 until March 2014 with over 7,000 new EYPs expected to enrol over this period.

Judith Thompson, Assistant Director for Early Years said: "We are delighted to be able to announce the organisations successfully contracted to lead the next phase of EYPS training. The eight organisations are delivering in consortia with a range of delivery partners across a number of delivery sites meaning that wherever you live in England there should be a provider for you.

"Today signals the beginning of the recruitment phase for the January 2012 EYPS training. We look forward to working with our new providers to welcome the next cohort of candidates to join this flagship graduate-level early years programme which is making a real difference to the lives of young children and families."

For media enquiries only, please contact CWDC Early Years Senior Project Manager Carol Dewhurst on 0113 390 7679 or at carol.dewhurst@cwdcouncil.org.uk

 Notes to Editor:

1. The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) supports local areas to drive sector-led improvements so that millions of people and volunteers who work with children and young people across England are able to do the best job they can.

We want England's children, young people and families' workforce to be respected and valued for the positive difference it makes to children, young people and their families.

We work in partnership with lots of different organisations and support workers and employers who want the lives of all children and young people to be healthy, happy and fulfilling. For more information visit: www.cwdcouncil.org.uk

2. Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) is the only professional graduate accreditation for the early years workforce, endorsed by Government and increasingly recognised as the gold standard for leading practice in early years provision. Launched in 2007, there are now more than 8,300 qualified EYPs across England, making a real difference to the lives of children every day, and more than 1,800 in training. For more information on EYPS visit http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/eyps

3. Full details of the new EYPS training providers including their contact details and details of their geographical delivery areas is available on the CWDC website at http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/early-years/eypsproviders

4. From 1 October 2011 to 31 March 2012 the EYPS programme and associated contracts will be owned and managed by CWDC.  From April 2012, the new Teaching Agency will take responsibility for the programme and associated contracts.  Further information about the Government's reform of its Arms Length Bodies can be found at: http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a0077895/teaching-agency-to-be-up-and-running-from-april-2012