What is EYP Status?

It’s widely recognised that if we give children a good start in life, they have a better chance of developing into great little people and adults.

EYP is a new status in early years that recognises the need for childcare professionals at graduate level as much as any other profession.

An EYP will continually develop the Early Years Foundation Stage to help children aged 0-5 gain the best possible start.

There is a government target for every full daycare setting to employ an EYP by 2015.

EYP Status is the highest level for an early years practitioner.

 

What are the requirements to gain EYP Status?

  • Be physically and mentally fit to work as an EYP
  • Not have a criminal background that might prevent you working with children or as an EYP, and you must not previously have been excluded from working with children
  • Demonstrate you can read effectively and are able to communicate clearly and accurately in spoken and written standard English
  • Hold a full degree (or ‘top up’ the Early Years Foundation Degree to full degree on the long pathway)
  • Provide evidence to show that you have achieved GCSEs at grade C or above (or recognised equivalents) in English and Mathematics

Please note: GCSE requirements are an exit requirement, so you can start a pathway without meeting this criteria, but status will not be gained until this requirement has been met. Level 2 Key Skills are not accepted. Funding and bursaries are available for those working in Dorset early years settings to achieve GCSE Maths and English, if aspiring to gain EYP Status.

Who is eligible?

You need to have a full degree or foundation degree to gain EYP Status. The length of time it takes for you to gain the status will depend on your qualifications and experience working with the 0-5 year age range.

For the validation, short and long pathways you are eligible if you work in a private, voluntary or independent day nursery or pre-school; or if you are a registered childminder; or working in a children’s centre.

If you are a graduate who does not work in any of the above early years settings, the full training pathway is the route for you.

If you don’t currently have a degree or a foundation degree, there is funding available to those working in childcare to gain Level 3 early years qualifications and progress to the Early Years Foundation Degree.

View the pathway chart for more details.

Most importantly you must be a strong leader, committed to early years excellence and improving outcomes for children by giving them the very best start in life.

 

 

 

 

 

Why should I be interested?

A career in early years can be highly rewarding. There are no training fees to pay and bursaries are available depending on the pathway.

In Dorset the qualified EYP may receive a salary increase and the setting could benefit from a funding increase.

There are full, part-time and term time only opportunities in early years.

If you are already working with early years, your employer can receive supply cover to release you to gain the status.

 

What will my role be?

Staffing structures will differ between each early years setting. As an EYP you could be a leader, supervisor or the overall manager, depending on the structure and vacancies available.

You will often work as part of a team of skilled and committed people, working with young children. You will have an important role in leading and supporting other staff by helping them develop their practice, establish and maintain positive relationships with children and communicate work in partnership with families, carers and other professionals.

 

Funding for settings to employ an EYP

Full day care settings in Dorset who commit to employ an EYP may be eligible for generous incentives while staff study for the Early Years Foundation Degree and further rewards once they achieve EYP Status.

This funding gives Dorset full day care settings an extra financial resource to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage effectively and increase salaries for leaders working towards and achieving EYP Status.

Click here for funding information in Dorset.