Nurseries struggling to recruit due to the GSCE requirement
Many nurseries are having difficulties recruiting because of the GCSE requirement. It is also having an effect on learners who are wanting to gain a level 3 in childcare. The issue is learners don’t have the grades to start a level 3 course but they have the knowledge of working with children. Not only is the GCSE requirement affecting childcare providers, colleges, and training providers are seeing a decrease in the number of learners studying for a level 3 course. For nurseries where does, this leave them with recruiting qualified practitioners?
Learners are being put off from furthering their career as they don’t have the grades for the entry requirements. This could be an absolute shame as many of these learners have the knowledge of working with children, are great with children and parents but they don’t have the academic grades to get that level 3 certificate. Many nurseries are getting frustrated as they are seeing learners who have the potential to be an outstanding practitioner but are being denied that opportunity because of not having the GCSE grades.
Working in the early years sectors is a caring profession and does it really matter if practitioners don’t have GCSE C or above in English and Maths. Some people could argue the fact that yes they do in order to provide quality learning opportunities.
Many learners have also looked into doing their functional skills but these are not equivalent to GCSE’S so they still do not meet the entry and exit requirements for a level 3 course. There is the argument that functional skills should be reinstated as an equivalent to help with this recruitment crisis.
The question is how can nurseries offer the 30hrs entitlement if they don’t have the staff, the recruitment crisis is only going to get worse if there aren’t the qualified practitioners to employ. This will leave many parents with the dilemma of lack of childcare places.
For more information about this visit http://www.saveourearlyyears.org.uk/
I agree, I had a Cambridge educated Physics teacher at school… brilliant when it came to KNOWLEDGE… very academic.. did all the statics for the school yet in the classroom – rubbish! He could not engage his students or present information. A teacher or educator is not to do with academic brilliance and I strongly believe the need for a GCSE is mathematics is nonsense when you will not be delivering anything near that to 0-4 year old children. Mathematics in the early years is all through play, experiences and simple activities, the mathematics they will be exposed to is basic counting, numbers and shapes and introducing concepts such as quantities, space and weight. It’s laughable that a GCSE standard in mathematics is actually required.
Hello,
I started studying my Level 3 childcare course in September 2014 and I finished in July 2015, should being qualified in childcare affect me, because halfway through the year when I was in college our course got changed to the Early Years Educator.
Also in college we got told that maths and English GCSE and functional skills would not affect us.
I have just completed my level 5 in ccld. I also completed my level 3. Key skills in English and was told this was enough I already have key skills level 3 in maths from doing my level 3.
I think government needs to rent think about functional skills should be included.
I hold both a level 2 and 3, I also have my key skills in math and English.
Before taking a break from my career in child care care to have my children I managed settings and helped to set up other settings from scratch that gained the offsted grad of outstanding!
I wrote policies and procedures ect
I will also add that before I decided to focus on having my own children I was about to start the foundation degree.
I had no choice but to take a brake whilst having children because the wedge paid would not cover the costs of child care for my own children, and now it’s looks as if 14 years of my childcare experience means nothing!
So I’m now unemployable?
I’m currently studying a level 2 teaching and supporting in schools qualification, I’m starting a functional skills maths and English as I need them to be a TA, what I don’t understand is why you need GCSEs in maths and English to work in a nursery and not in a school, does not make sense to me.
It is short sighted to make assumptions about qualifications. Having a 1st class honours degree does not guarantee that you will make an outstanding teacher. There is more to the teaching profession than academic prowess. Of course we want capable people working with our youngest children. Having or not having GCSE Maths and English is not necessarily the key to finding these incredibly important people.
Just to point out, when you do a level 3 childcare course, you do Key skills in Maths and English which are equivalent to a GCSE ‘C’ grade. Unless this has recently changed, but when I did my level 3 childcare course, there were Keyskill lessons which everyone took part in unless you had a higher GCSE in Maths, English and ICT
The rules have now changed on this and it needs to be GCSE’s and not any key skills or functional skills.
I agree that some people have a wonderful caring nature and are very good at nurturing children but unfortunately with the increase in paperwork that is required it has become important that nursery practitioners do have a good level of written English. This has meant that those people who don’t have that are pretty much barred from a job they would have been perfect for 20 years ago.
I found this really interesting. I have the GCSEs required so went in and completed Level 3 early years teaching support. I have worked in a reception for the past 5 years. I am just about to complete my second year of a early years foundation degree (applying for the 3rd yr now) but I have been told by college my GCSEs are now not current (I’m 41yrs) ! Although I’m obviously good enough to do the job I am doing and be accepted and on a degree course. I am hoping to go on to do an early years teaching course and career but nervous now about GCSEs from 25 years ago !
I was given the same information. I have worked in early years Special needs for a very long time. I enjoyed the challenge to help develop skills in all areas so children are given the best chance when going into school/ special needs education. I am frequently told what a good job I do and this always makes me want to develop my learning and understanding. Done early years foundation for 2 years and wanted to go on to do a third year, I am now over 50 so probably won’t bother, feel let down!!!
Hi – that’s absolutely not true. I’m 52 and mine are admirable as I’m in my last year of my BA. The problem is everyone is in free fall – we need clarification on this. The government will not back down on GCSE attainment.
They do say they the GCSE English and Maths were harder when first introduced ie around about when you did them and have got easier over the years that’s why so many getting these A*s. Hence Mr Gove making them more harder to pass and bringing the 1-9 grades in. I am sorry but I don’t understand how knowing equations and algebra is going to make you better at looking after children in a nursery? Missing out on good quality of people who children feel safe and happy with and STILL able to get them to level expected of them by government at this age!
Yes, I think it does matter…the early years are the most important years and our children deserve to be supported by people with a good, basic level of Maths and English but the Government should be doing more to make sure that everyone leaving school has this basic level and on turn supporting settings to support their staff to reach this level too. We need to work together to make sure that everyone understands the importance of early years!
I’m a level 2. I have level 2 maths and English but not gcse. I’ve worked with children for 9 years and this gcse rule is holding me back with wanting to do my level 3. Yes I agree u must have some qualification with maths and English but having to be gcse is not on
Hi there, I’m so sorry to hear of your situation and agree! Please do visit http://www.saveourearlyyears.org.uk to see how you can join the campaign to change the policy!
Hi I don’t know if this is of any use to you but maybe an access course into History, teaching and social sciences may be beneficial to you. It’s a one year course that is equivalent to a level 3. It also allows you to gain credits to be able to go onto an early years degree if you would further more like to add to your qualifications and offers English and maths alongside. Maybe looking into something like this at a local college could be beneficial
You obviously have not worked in early years then! I admit good language skills is important for writing reports on children, mainly observations and assessments, however a pass in GCSE math is absolute nonsense… i know many practitioners who are incredibly dedicated, creative and motive children through well planned and executed activities…there is absolutely no requirement to hold a GCSE standard mathematics to work with children 0 – 4 years.