What is Early Years Professional Status?
Having a highly skilled workforce is vital to all early years childcare. In fact, research has shown that the development of young children is directly linked to the qualifications held by the early years workers around them.
The Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) is a professional status for practitioners that work with children aged 0-5. EYPs are graduate level practitioners who recognise their role in improving the experiences and life-chances of children and in maximising their opportunities. They make decisions based on the depth of their knowledge of the EYFS and of relevant theories and research. They are alive to changing circumstances and respond flexibly with children’s interests at heart. They review, analyse and evaluate their own and others’ practice and thus judge whether they are making a difference to the wellbeing, learning and development of children in their own and their colleagues’ care.
How you will benefit
- Improve and change practice in your setting
- Lead practice across the Early Years Foundation Stage
- Support and mentor your colleagues and others
- Model skills and behaviours that safeguard and promote good outcomes for children
How your setting will benefit
- EYPs are leaders of change and can manage and inspire those they work with
- EYPs have a wealth of up to date knowledge of effective practice that they have developed through training
- The government recognises the difference EYPs are making and you will be contributing to its vision for a highly skilled workforce
- Parents may be influenced to choose a setting that employs an EYP over a setting that doesn’t
Why study with us?
The EYPS programme is delivered through the University of Brighton’s School of Education which has an excellent national reputation for teaching and learning. Following its most recent OFSTED inspection (April 2010), the UoB retained its status as an ‘outstanding’ provider.
The School of Education also offers a range of award bearing professional development opportunities for teachers and other education professionals from foundation degree (many of which are endorsed / recognised by Professional Bodies such as CWDC, DfE and Skillsactive) to doctoral level. These programmes are based around a significant work-based or work-related element, and are offered in conjunction with local and regional employers, and are completed by approximately 1,000 students each year.
The School of Education enjoys high standards of teaching, strong links with employers and good employment rates. Our students have an excellent success rate in achieving Early Years Professional Status.
We actively work to attract students from many backgrounds and are committed to responding to the needs of a diverse population of students. We aim to develop effective and sustainable professional networks within and beyond local, regional and national borders.
Working with partners
We value the ways in which our partners shape and support our programme. We have excellent working relationships with Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey local authorities. We also work closely with a range of private and public sector employers who take our candidates on placement.
What our partners say
"EYPs are making a difference to children in Brighton & Hove early years settings. They are modelling and encouraging positive interactions and raising the standard of early education. EYPs are demonstrating greater reflective practice and are becoming increasingly confident to introduce new ideas into their settings, mentor colleagues, model best practice, improve environments and are taking the lead with quality improvement programmes. EYPs are demonstrating greater leadership and planning skills which is leading to improvements in practice and the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage. 52% of early years settings in Brighton &Hove with an EYP were graded outstanding by Ofsted, compared to 18% settings without an EYP (January 2011).”
Andrew Parfitt, Childcare Workforce Development Manager
Children and Families,
Brighton & Hove City Council
“The EYP has been vital to our preschool and we have found the support and mentoring second to none. Our setting is all the more beneficial to our community because of the fantastic way we have been able to improve.”
Rotherfield Pre-School
“The EYP has been a role model to other staff and students, improving learning outcomes for all children and building confidence in junior staff.”
Lingfield Nursery School”
