Early Years Professional Status (EYPS)

Early Years Professional Status(EYPS) is the professionalqualification for practitionersworking with under-5s.

Are you working with young children orconsidering a career with under-5s? Choose from four pathways for a coursethat meets your training needs. From 6-month part-time courses to 12-month full-time courses, all EYPStraining is open to people who alreadywork with young children or people whoare seeking to develop their careers.

Do you own a business that provides careto the under-5s? Find out how EYPS-qualified staff can contribute to the qualityof the early-years’ experience within yoursetting. The University of Chichester isleading a consortium of institutions toprovide EYPS training across of the South East of England as part of thegovernment’s commitment to improvesupport for families.

EYPS is available throughout the South East at:• University of Chichester• University of Brighton• Canterbury Christ Church University• University of Portsmouth• University of Winchester• Tribal Group

What is EYPS?

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“EYPS training has thepotential to make a realdifference to the supportfor young children andtheir families. It will helpmany disadvantagedchildren by training peopleto better understand andcater for their needs.”

Pia Parry, Head of Childhood

and Youth Studies

The Government has a strategic focus on a number of areas which help to informaspects of our recruitment focus. Theseare to encourage more applications fromunder-represented groups (e.g. men andpeople from minority ethnic groups) andpractitioners who are most likely to benefitchildren at the greatest disadvantage.However, we welcome applications from all, whatever stage of your careeryou are at.

Strategic Aims

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Enhance your businesswith EYPS

The current Minister of Statefor the Department forEducation, Sarah Teather, isquite clear that ‘A highly skilledEarly Years workforce is critical if we are to combat inequality,help tackle poverty and improvethe life chances of the mostdisadvantaged children.’

Research evidence1 shows that improvingthe quality of the early years’ experienceis directly related to better outcomes forchildren. Key factors contributing to thequality of this experience are well-qualified leaders, working alongside andsupporting staff to continue to develop agood understanding of child developmentand learning.

EYPS qualified staff will enhance yourbusiness by leading high quality practice;supporting your staff in modelling theskills and behaviours that safeguard andsupport children.

• Early years professionals are key to raising the quality of early years provision.

• They are able to bring about change to improve practice.

• They lead practice across the earlyyears foundation stage.

• They model the skills and behavioursthat safeguard and promote goodoutcomes for children.

• They support and mentor other practitioners

1 (The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) study and theEvaluation of the Graduate Leader Fund – Final Report)

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Pathways to EYPS

We welcome applications for allareas of early years and will holdinterviews with all candidateswho apply and meet theeligibility criteria.

In some cases payments are made toemployers for supply cover whilecandidates are engaged on their trainingprogrammes. Candidates who are notable to access a funded place will be ableto self-fund, further details of this aredisplayed on our website.

There are four pathwaysto EYPS, each of which isflexible and personalisedto your requirements:• Graduate Practitioner

Pathway (GPP)• Undergraduate

Practitioner Pathway(UPP)

• Graduate EntryPathway (GEP)

• Undergraduate EntryPathway (UEP)

This means that you can tailor learningopportunities incollaboration with us.

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Why study for EYPS?

EYPS is not a qualification but a status that recognises the expertise of practitioners and their professional leadership skills.

Study EYPS and you will gain: • a deeper understanding of your

knowledge and theories that underpin good practice

• the ability to be a reflective practitioner and to encourage this in others

• the ability to lead and support others in order to effect change and to improve outcomes for all children in their care

• the ability to contribute to the continuing professional development for staff and quality of provision

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Who can apply?Graduates with an HE level 6 degree and awide range of experience and qualifications,working in a range of settings and roles, arepotential candidates for EYPS (GPP).

Practitioners who have relevant experienceand a level 5 Early Years Foundation Degreeare also eligible to undertake training for EYPSwhich will include a 'top-up' to the required level 6 (UPP).

Candidates can be working in the private,voluntary, maintained or independent earlyyears settings or in children's centres.

It is possible for graduates with an unrelateddegree to undertake the graduate entrypathway to EYPS (GEP).

In addition, there is a pathway open toundergraduates in their final year of an EarlyChildhood Studies Degree (UEP).

To meet the eligibility criteria you need to holdGCSE’s in Maths and English Language at gradeC (or equivalent).

“In terms of my ownprofessional development,it was invaluable”

Previous EYP candidate.................................................

“The pathway was wellorganised and stimulatingand tutors were veryenthusiastic. I amextremely proud ofachieving EYPS whichenabled me tocontinuously strive tooffer a better service toour children.”

Previous EYP candidate

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Your training

We will work closely with you to decide whichpathway best matches your qualifications and yourexperience in early years.

Together, we will draw up a PersonalisedTraining Plan which sets out clearly whatyou will be expected to do to enable youto develop and demonstrate the skills ofleadership, decision-making andcommunication that are central to the roleof the EYP and to meet the NationalStandards for Early Years Professionals.

You may be asked to:• undertake a placement in a setting

other than your own to gain experiencewith an age range with whom you donot currently work,

• attend modules on the Early ChildhoodStudies BA (Hons) programme to gainunderpinning knowledge at degree level

• undertake specific projects andactivities which give you opportunitiesto develop skills

All candidates will:• attend EYPS Training Sessions to

consider and reflect on the role of anEYP in key aspects of work in earlyyears, for example, LeadershipObservation, Planning

• attend a formative DevelopmentalReview to discuss your progress todate and what you need to evidence inorder to gain EYPS

• attend the Preparation for Assessmenttraining sessions

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“Thank you so much forhelping me achieve theEYPS; I was really verynervous about all this afterso many years out ofeducation but thepathway is very enjoyableand relevant to what wedo in the preschool thatthis made it easier to do.”

Previous EYP candidate................................................“Thank you for all yoursupport in leading up theEYPS assessment. I feel as though I havelearned so much in theprocess and gained somuch as a leader.”

Previous EYP candidate

Our team will support yourtraining and development onyour pathway to EYPS.

The EYPS Team will work with you todevise a Personalised Training Plan and willensure that all elements of it are deliveredto a high standard. We will liaise with yoursetting and/or placement to assist them inproviding you with the opportunities youneed. In addition, we will be involved indelivering the training sessions.

Your Mentor will be on hand to adviseand guide you through your pathway andwill take an active interest in your progressand development.

Lecturers on the Early Years Team at the University of Chichester willsupport those candidates who attendmodules on the BA (Hons) Childhood Studies programme.

Assessors are experienced in judging thatyour skills and practice demonstrate thatyou meet the National Standards for EYPS.

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Working with you

We are here to answer your questions. Take a look at our website www.chi.ac.uk and www.education.gov.uk.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, callEYPS Programme Co-ordinator or Administratoron (01243) 816290 or email us at eyps@chi.ac.uk.

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Want to know more?

Find out moreContact: 01243 816290Email: eyps@chi.ac.uk

www.chi.ac.uk/childhood-studies/eypsPlease recycle after use