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No. 13

2013-14

QTB 13

We’re preparing for another year of great change for training in the sector. This QTB aims to gather together the ‘known knowns’ and identify the remaining ‘known unknowns’.

Providing support,

Making connections

Keeping you informed

Success rates 2013-14 …. So far!

Level Success Rate 12-13 Potential success rate 13-14 (providing remaining learners pass)

National Bench Mark

1 92% 89% 90%

2 78% 81% 82%

3 82% 82% 85%

CONGRATULATIONS! This great Alliance picture is the new image on workshop and short course attendance certificates.

New Alliance Publications

Bilingualism in the Early Years Language links

CONTENT

ADMIN CORNER

24+learner Loans – update and advice Disclosure and Barring Service Learner Support Funding Destination Data Qualifications programme Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce – last enrolments Our Level 3 Diploma statistics Apprenticeships are back The new Pre-Level 3 qualification - CACHE Level 2 Certificate in an Introduction to Early Years Education and Care (QCF) First aid changes New Level 3 EYE – GCSE entry requirement Lost GCSE and O Level Certificates Internet tips Smarter searching

Quarterly

Training

Bulletin

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AD

MIN

CORNER DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE

Divisional help

Click here for DBS website Learner having difficulty getting a DBS check completed by their placement host may ask for this to be done by the relevant divisional office. The charge will be £44.

24+ LEARNER LOANS – update and advice 24+ loans had a difficult start but now interest is picking up well. Student Finance England (SFE) has received 50,000 applications. Of these:

12% needed further evidence

3% were ineligible

4% were later withdrawn

Advice from SFE – providing evidence

Applications with in-date passports are

processed most quickly

Learners should apply in the same name

as their passport

Applications using birth certificates may

take 4 weeks to process

It’s worth having a friend or family

member check your inputs into the web

form when you apply on-line – `a second

pair of eyes’, to make sure your inputs

are correct.

Applications – rules for further loans In the second year we may start to receive applications from people who have already had a loan. Learners are allowed to have up to four 24+ student loans, but there are restrictions in the type. They are not able to have more than one loan for a qualification of the same size and level, even if they cover different subject matter E.g. Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce + Level 3 Diploma in Leadership and Management

But they may have more than one loan at the same level if the qualification is a different size. E.g. Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce + Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management

Remember the +24 Loans microsite http://www.24plusmicrosite.com/ for up-to-date info and FAQs

LEARNER SUPPORT FUNDING – still available The Learner Support Fund is still available to provide financial help to eligible learners to help with books, travel and childcare costs. This includes learners who have taken out 24+ student loans. Eligible learners could cover the cost of a DBS check as part of their LSF application. Information about eligibility and applying is on the Learner Support Fund pdf document. You can find this now in the resources section of https://system.learningassistant.com/psla/. Alternatively, write to zoe.harrison@pre-school.org.uk, or sharon.freeman@pre-school.org.uk and they will send you a copy. Zoe and Sharon are based at the Tonbridge office – 01732 363070 - and can answer questions and receive and process LSF applications.

DESTINATIONS DATA – now on class register SFA and our auditors have asked us to improve the quality of the data we collect at the end of a qualification courses. Insufficient learners tell us about their career outcomes as a result of taking the course. Future data requirements This will be in preparation for the future where SFA will expect learners to not only succeed but also to get a job, a new job or some promotion as a result of taking the qualification. Immediate data collection changes For today we need to get a better return of data. At the moment learners are asked to provide this data as part of their ILP. This does not work well so we have decided to change the way we collect this. In future you will find a grid on the reverse of the class register in the final term. Complete this as learners complete their qualifications. Send in the completed grid when you send in the final register.

Job Done

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Our Level 3 Diploma statistics Since September 2010:

1511 learners

85% achieved the qualification

Youngest to achieve – aged 17 Oldest to achieve – aged 65 56 tutors have taught on the programme.

LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA FOR THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’SWORKFORCE – last enrolments It is with regret that we see the end of the current Level 3 Diploma on 31st July 2014. It has been a qualification that suited the great majority of our mature learners, 76% of whom are aged 30 plus. We have taught and assessed it with integrity, and sent many able childcare learners back to their settings to lead and manage. Unfortunately the Diploma did not suit younger, less experienced learners or their colleges or training providers. The change will happen from 1st August, but in the meantime we will continue to seek enrolments for the current level 3 for as long as we are able. A promotional advert will appear in Under Five in May, to encourage potential learners to contact the Training Centre to discuss and get advice. The outcome of initial assessment of literacy will guide enrolment decisions.

Qualifications programme

APPRENTICESHIPS ARE BACK! When 24+ Learner Loans began last summer +24 Level 3 apprentices were only entitled to 50% of the funding needed through their loan. They were expected to either fund the rest themselves, or get help from their employer. You can read the press coverage about the results of this decision in December 2013 Apprenticeship loan poor uptake and in January 2014 Apprenticeship funding article SFA Funding reinstated March 2014 The Government announced a change in this policy and the arrangements were put in place in March (those 404 apprentices with loans will have their loans written off!) We are keen to enroll apprentices using the current framework until 31

st July 2014.

Apprenticeship funding eligibility criteria are:

Residency - must be settled in the UK or EEA for 3 years prior to start

Must be employed

Must have reached school leaving date

Must not have level 4 qualification or higher for intermediate and advanced Apprenticeships

Must not be in full-time education September 2014 onwards From September a new apprenticeship framework will be in place. The Alliance is part of the employers’ group currently negotiating what will be included. The DfE’s new GCSE entry requirements are expected to be part of the new framework. Longer term funding proposals The longer-term future of apprenticeships looks less favourable for small employers. Department for Business has proposed that funding would be routed through employers and the PAYE system. Employers will be expected to commission training themselves. Commentators predict that this system will be easy for larger apprentice employers to handle, for example Rolls Royce. However, it will be very difficult for small and medium size employers to administer. Currently small training providers provide 90% of apprenticeships.

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THE NEW PRE-LEVEL 3 QUALIFICATION - CACHE Level 2 Certificate in an Introduction to Early Years Education and Care (QCF) Cache has created a new Level 2 as the ideal pre-cursor to the new Level 3 EYE. These are the unit titles

Theme 1- Introducing the Role of the Early Years Practitioner

Unit 1.3 Support physical care routines for children

Unit 2.1 An introduction to the role of the early years practitioner

Unit 5 Understand how to work in partnership

Theme 2 – Legislation, Framework and Professional Practice

Unit 2 Understand legislation relating to the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children

Unit 3 Use legislation relating to the health and safety of children

Unit 4 Use legislation relating to equality, diversity and inclusive practice

Theme 3 – Play, Development and Learning for School

Unit 3.8 Understand how to plan to meet the needs of the developing child

Unit 6 Supporting children’s play

Unit 7 Support children's play in early years

Unit 8 Support the needs of the child in preparing for school

Unit 10 Supporting children's development

Unit 11 Use observation, assessment and planning

Unit 12 Support children’s positive behaviour

Theme 4 – Professional Development

Unit 9 Engage in professional development

Option units (Choose 2)

Unit 1.1 Support healthy lifestyles for children through the provision of food and nutrition

Unit 1.2 Support healthy lifestyles for children through exercise

OP 1 Support children with additional needs

OP 2 Support creative play The qualification is slightly smaller than the current Level 2 at 33 credits. Cache provides tutor guidance and a suggested order and timing for delivery. This qualification will be provided through classroom tuition and workplace assessment. Training to deliver this course will be provided this summer. FIRST AID CHANGES You’ll note that the new Level 2 does not the two paediatric first aid units. These have been re-written as two level 3 units and set as a two unit award. See Cache website page on Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid. We will continue to provide this training, and will consider the changes necessary to deliver it at Level 3 in the summer/autumn. EYFS Statutory Framework changed First Aid requirement March 2014 `3.25 At least one person who has a current paediatric first aid certificate must be on the premises and available at all times when children are present, and must accompany children on outings. Childminders, and any assistant who might be in sole charge of the children for any period of time, must hold a current paediatric

first aid certificate. Paediatric first aid training must be relevant for workers caring for young children and where relevant, babies. Providers should take into account the number of children, staff and layout of premises to ensure that a paediatric first aider is able to respond to emergencies quickly.’ The requirement for First Aid training to be Local Authority Approved has been removed. A footnote states `Providers can choose which organisation they wish to provide the training (preferably one with a nationally approved and accredited first aid qualification or one that is a member of a trade body with an approval and monitoring scheme) but the training must cover the course content as for St John Ambulance or Red Cross paediatric first aid training and be renewed every three years.’

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NEW LEVEL 3 EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR QUALIFICATION – the GCSE entry requirement We will provide the new CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) (QCF) qualification from September 2014. The new GCSE entry requirements The government announcement on 25th February confirmed the proposal of January 2013. The SFA funding rules 2014-15 state `From 1 August 2014, to be eligible for funding for Early Years Educator learning aims, new learners will need GCSE English and maths at grade C or above. You must confirm the learner’s prior achievement of GCSE grade A* to C in both English and maths, and record this in the Learning Agreement before enrolling learners.’ Rules for learners aged 16-19 Later the government agreed that 16-19 year olds may enrol without both GCSEs. These learners must continue to study and achieve at least a Grade C in each by the time they compete their Level 3 EYE. For colleges providing this full-time qualification this represents a risk. Employers will be must to check that recruits have both the EYE and the GCSE certificates to be able to count them in ratios. A Level 3 EYE without these GCSEs is not going to help young people become employed. Rules apply to learners taking 24+ loans There has also been confusion about whether the rule about GCSE and funding applies to the 24+ student loans. We discovered that it does. Loans are treated as if they are public funding. To be eligible for a 24+ loan, the learner must meet the GCSE requirements. Our web survey We carried out a small web survey, inviting comments on the GCSE issue from Level 3 learners 2010 - date. 78% of those responding achieved GCSE A-C, O Level or CSE Grade 1 English 57% of those responding achieved GCSE A-C, O Level or CSE Grade 1 Mathematics Opinion about the policy was split 50/50 agree/disagree

Lost GCSE and O Level Certificates The majority of our learners are over 30, so it’s possible that some potential recruits may not be able to find GCSE/O Level / CSE certificates awarded of decades ago. In our survey we asked whether respondents could have showed their certificates when they enrolled for the course. 55% said that they could have brought their English certificates, and 42% said they could have brought their mathematics certificates. Replacing lost English and Maths Certificates There is a service to enable qualifications holders to get replacement certificates. They should go to the following webpage for information on how to apply. https://www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate Applicants will need to remember the name of the awarding body for their exams. All the data from old awarding bodies is in safe-keeping of the newer ones. The details can be found on the website and application form. The replacement cost is £37 per certificate. The Future Many people in the sector and in influential positions have pointed out the challenges of this change. Alternatives proposed have included:

Level 2 functional skills as a more

appropriate qualification.

all Level 3 EYE learners should be

expected to hold both GCSEs by the end of

their Level 3 study (equality with 16-19

year olds).

The government has not been persuaded.

We must accept that this decision is made and is unlikely to change. This will change the ways in which we provide qualifications. It’s likely that a proportion of our mature learners will hold both GCSEs, but there may not be enough living in one area and able to provide training in our customary way. Now is the time for some creativity in designing our delivery! Level 2 may be the best approach for all learners as a good preparation for Level 3. You’ll hear more about our new programme delivery over the summer. In the meantime we need to help as many become qualified with the current qualification.

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Duckduckgo But maybe you’re weary of Google. Why does it always seem to know too much about you? Does it come back with rather predictable lists? Google is set up to become familiar with your searches, which can be helpful, and sometimes not. Maybe you’d like a refreshing change. A website that doesn’t assume it knows you and what you like. You need https://duckduckgo.com

Duckduckgo could send you back results that you hadn’t considered. Saving your searches – Diigo It can be helpful to be able to save your searches. Once found it can be difficult to trace your way back to that valuable page! You can use a social bookmarking site such as https://www.diigo.com You’ll need to open a free account with this site but when this is done you will be able to access your bookmarks from any internet browser. You can organize your bookmarked pages in folders in your library on the site.

SMARTER SEARCHING Google advanced search Google is the most popular search engine for most people using the internet. It is so popular that searching has become ‘known as Googling’. But there’s more to its search facilities that that famous front page. https://www.google.co.uk/

Underneath that page there is an advanced search page that allows the information seeker to refine their search. You can reach this page via Google’s settings, and also through this link. http://www.google.com/advanced_search

Advanced search allows you to refine your search e.g. `all of these words’ `this exact word or phrase’ `any of these words’ `none of these words’ And further by language, country and time. The exact word or phrase section could be useful in checking potential plagiarized text. Google has further advice on searching in other pages Google search operators Punctuation and symbols in search Google alerts What about a regular search? You can set up Google to send you the results of a set of search terms on a regular basis with Google Alerts http://www.google.co.uk/alerts Your alerts are sent by email. You can amend your searches over time and have them sent as often as you prefer. You can customize them until they bring you the information you need. You can also delete when no longer needed.

Internet tips