Concerns have been expressed after a “key aspect” of recommendations on the future of childcare qualifications was “neglected” by the government.

The Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education (Cache) has spoken out after the government said it would not implement suggestions made by Professor Cathy Nutbrown for a minimum level three qualification for early years practitioners counted in child to staff ratios.

It would have meant that practitioners would only have counted as staff in ratios if they had a level three qualification.

She wanted a minimum of 50 per cent of staff at level three by last September, increasing to 70 per cent from September 2015 and 100 per cent by 2022.

The Department for Education (DfE) has said it listened to Professor Nutbrown’s advice and had implemented some of her suggestions, but it would not adopt the minimum standard.
But a Cache spokesperson said this did not go far enough.

She said: “Any change may appear to neglect a key aspect of the Nutbrown Report.

“It is important to focus on how any real difference to early years education and care can be measured through the introduction of the early years educator level three qualification. The outcomes for babies and young children, as well as their families, are the real business of any proposed change and must remain so.

“We have responded enthusiastically to the Nutbrown recommendation concerning qualifications at level three, in order to provide those that are ‘rigorous and challenging’.

She added: “We have developed full and relevant early years qualifications in partnership with our stakeholders and through employer engagement that are much more up to date, fit for purpose and appealing.”

Professor Nutbrown also criticised the government’s decision, calling it “hugely disappointing”.

She said: “This decision denies opportunities for many babies, toddlers and young children; for their families, and for the women and men who seek a worthwhile career with enhanced status and career prospects.

“The quality of the experiences offered to the youngest children, depends greatly on the quality of the staff working with them; and robust qualifications is one way to ensure that staff are well equipped to do this important work. Level two qualifications are starting points to work with young children but this level is only an introduction.

“The decision not to opt for a workforce with a minimum level three qualification threatens the future status of the profession, limits career progression and denies some of the most vulnerable children the best that we can offer.”

A DfE spokesperson said: “We accepted many of Cathy Nutbrown’s recommendations on childcare qualifications and share her ambitions to ensure the highest standards of quality in early education and childcare.

“That’s why we have introduced the level three early years educator qualification, and early years teacher status for graduates, both of which have tougher entry requirements to ensure high quality staff are working with children and giving them the best start in life.”

In its original response to the recommendations, the Association of Colleges (AoC) said it supported Professor Nutbrown’s view “that level three qualifications must deliver the necessary depth and breadth of knowledge, be rigorous and challenging, and require high quality work experience placements”.

However, it declined to comment on the DfE’s rejection of Professor Nutbrown’s suggestions.

Further strike action at sixth form colleges could be on the cards after a walkout by staff on Thursday (March 26) over pay and conditions.

National Union of Teachers (NUT) members marched through the streets of England’s major cities in protest against government plans to implement performance-related pay, among other changes.
It is not known how many sixth form colleges were affected, or whether any were forced to close, but the NUT has warned that further strikes could happen if an agreement isn’t reached.

Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) HR director Graham Baird said: “We are disappointed with NUT’s decision to press ahead with the one-day strike action.

“The impact on sixth form colleges varies across the country, but we are aware that the vast majority of sixth form colleges will have made their own arrangements for the day to ensure that wherever possible students can attend colleges and continue their studies independently, if necessary, without too much disruption.”

Christine Blower, NUT general secretary, said the strike, which also hit schools, had been “a clear demonstration that teachers are thoroughly tired of the intolerable pressures they are being put under by the coalition government”.
She added: “Despite being the only teachers’ union to be taking action, members still felt it was essential they made a stand.

“Teachers cannot and will not take any more of the diktats from government that are ruining teaching and education. We will be continuing with our campaign of engaging parents and the public and applying pressure to politicians.

“Teachers love teaching but are crushed by the long hours and stifling accountability regime. If there isn’t movement in the talks there could well be further strike action this summer.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The NUT has tried to create as much disruption for pupils and parents today as possible
“Parents will struggle to understand why the NUT is striking over the government’s measures to let heads pay good teachers more.

“They called for talks to avoid industrial action, we agreed to their request, and talks have been taking place weekly.”

Staff at a college in the South West are in the dark about the future of their principal after an internal memo was sent out saying she would not be returning this term.

A new acting principal has replaced Wiltshire College’s Di Dale, but a spokesperson declined to comment on whether she would be returning.

Mrs Dale, who had been principal for more than seven years, came under fire from the University and College Union (UCU) in 2012 when it passed a vote of no confidence in college leadership.
And the latest twist comes just three weeks after an Ofsted inspection.

A college spokesperson declined to say why Mrs Dale was not at the college, nor comment on the results of the inspection.

However, vice principal Ben Allen said: “In line with good business practice when a key member of the team is out of the office for a period of time, we informed staff at the beginning of the week that the principal will not be returning to the college for the rest of this term and that Amanda Burnside will take on the role of acting principal in Di’s absence.”

Local media has reported that the memo to staff from chair of governors Helen Birchenough said: “Di Dale will not be returning to the college this term, I have asked Amanda Burnside to take on the role of acting principal.”

Mrs Burnside, who joined the college three months ago as vice principal, is a former executive director at Swindon College, which was rated outstanding by Ofsted in March last year.
Nick Varney, University and College Union (UCU) regional official for South West England, welcomed her appointment.

He said: “UCU members at Wiltshire College have been very unhappy with the current leadership and passed a vote of no confidence in July 2012.

“If the appointment of an acting principal results in a change of practice and leadership style, staff will be delighted.

“We look forward to working with the acting principal to build a strong and successful college.”

The college was twice rated as satisfactory following its previous two inspections in 2007 and 2012 and last year parted company with its fifth vice principal in five years — only one of which left for another job.

The government has said traineeships were “off to a good start” as it revealed 3,300 starts in  six months.

It is the first time the number of starts on the government’s new flagship youth unemployment programme has been published and comes just over a week after official figures showed 912,000 young people aged 16 to 24 were unemployed in November last year to January.

Traineeships, which combine a work experience placement with maths, English and employability training for 16 to 24-year-olds, were to designed help those looking for a job or apprenticeship, but who lack experience and qualifications.

A Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesperson told FE Week: “Provisional data published today show that traineeships are off to a good start with young people reaping the benefits.”

The note which accompanied the data, which came as part of today’s Statistical First Release, warned the 3,300 figure for traineeship starts, from August last year to January, did “not provide a full picture”.

“Providers may not have reported all their information relating to this period and it is not possible to determine how incomplete the information is,” the statement said.

It added: “All new programmes take time to develop over their first year. In addition, new reporting systems typically present issues in terms of completeness and accuracy as the sector adjusts to new funding and reporting rules.

“Analysis of ILR data shows that there is more likely to be a significant undercount for traineeships compared to other provision.”

The statement added that it could not provide breakdowns by age or provider because they were “likely to present unreliable and misleading comparisons”.

Traineeship take-up was dubbed “disappointing” by Ofsted FE and skills director Matthew Coffey at the Association of Colleges (AoC) annual conference in November, although the government has said it had not set a target for the programme.

However, Keith Smith, the Skills Funding Agency’s executive director for funding and programmes, also said at the AoC conference that “colleges have indicated they will deliver around 57 per cent of projected 19 to 23 traineeship starts for 2013/14”. The agency later said Mr Smith had given out a figure that was “not official” and could not supply the numbers behind his claim.

See edition 98 of FE Week, dated Monday, March 31, for more.

Sixth form college teachers up and down the country have walked out of work as part of a strike by the National Union of Teachers (NUT).

The industrial action over changes to pay and conditions has gone ahead today despite a series of meetings with the government, which failed to reach a satisfactory agreement.

Rallies have been organised in major cities including London, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and Leeds. Schools are also affected.

It comes after Education Secretary Michael Gove wrote to unions yesterday in response to talks.

He said: “On the substance of what has been discussed so far, I can see the case for a number of the arguments you have put forward. In particular, I am keen to ensure that we tackle any unnecessary bureaucracy, which I know is an aim that you share given your concerns about workload.

“I am committed to reducing further the bureaucratic burdens on teachers and am grateful for your views and ideas on how this can be achieved.”

But the letter was not well-received by NUT general secretary Christine Blower.

She said: “Mr Gove’s letter shows how little he listens to the concerns of teachers and how little progress has been made in the talks process. His letter confirms why we are right to strike.

“The Secretary of State has attended none of the talks, nor have other ministers. The talks are with civil servants who are forbidden by Mr Gove from straying into areas of policy. The talks are only allowed to discuss how Mr Gove’s policies are implemented.

“Nevertheless, the NUT has participated fully in the talks because we will use any avenue to seek improvements for teachers and thereby to defend education.”