Unimpressed

[Cait]

Well, I got a form from the County to fill in my staff's qualifications and check against the CWDC site to highlight ongoing training needs. I've done this before, not too long ago, so I thought it would be a breeze - but 'HOW ABOUT NO!'

 

My Open University Foundation Degree doesn't even appear on their list!! The Certificate in Early Years Practice does, but the Foundation Degree has disappeared!

 

Anyone else found this - and who do I complain to - CWDC or Open Uni?

[Marion]

Well, I got a form from the County to fill in my staff's qualifications and check against the CWDC site to highlight ongoing training needs. I've done this before, not too long ago, so I thought it would be a breeze - but 'HOW ABOUT NO!'

 

My Open University Foundation Degree doesn't even appear on their list!! The Certificate in Early Years Practice does, but the Foundation Degree has disappeared!

 

Anyone else found this - and who do I complain to - CWDC or Open Uni?

 

That's really interesting because I was told at a meeting on Wednesday that my NN's EY Foundation Degree isn't recognised by my LA (not an OU degree so don't think it's their fault)

[Gezabel]

Well, I got a form from the County to fill in my staff's qualifications and check against the CWDC site to highlight ongoing training needs. I've done this before, not too long ago, so I thought it would be a breeze - but 'HOW ABOUT NO!'

 

My Open University Foundation Degree doesn't even appear on their list!! The Certificate in Early Years Practice does, but the Foundation Degree has disappeared!

 

Anyone else found this - and who do I complain to - CWDC or Open Uni?

 

I don't think you need to complain to CWDC or Open Uni (but happy to be proved wrong!)

The CWDC have changed the way they record level 5 and 6 qualifications

I don't think you will find any Foundation degrees, BA, or BA (Hons) qualifications individually listed irrespective of provider.

 

There is an explanatory note on the CWDC on Foundation Degrees being recognised as level 5 and same for higher qualifications - it details the necessary content for it to be 'suitable'.

 

Hope that helps. I was horrified to find my level 5 and 6 were seemingly no longer recognised and yet my 'older' OU Cert in EY at level 4 is still listed - then I read the message and the higher qualifications haven't disappeared in the true sense of the word!!!

[Gezabel]

Sorry pressed add reply too soon! Here is the message I mentioned!

 

CWDC has mapped a number of Higher Education qualifications at levels 5 and 6 of the National Qualifications Framework. These include some foundation, ordinary and honours degrees. Due to the volume of these degrees CWDC has agreed with the DCSF that it will not include all of these qualifications on the Qualifications List. Instead the following statements will be issued through the Qualifications List.

 

•A foundation degree at Level 5 in early years, childcare or playwork will be considered full and relevant for the purposes of registration and regulation, which means that anyone holding this qualification can count in the qualified ratio of staff at Level 3

•Ordinary degrees and honours degrees at Level 6 in early years, childcare and playwork with an element of assessed performance (such as a practitioner option) will be considered full and relevant for the purposes of registration and regulation, which means anyone holding this qualification can count in the qualified ratio of staff at Level 3.

 

•Ordinary degrees and honours degrees in early years, childcare and playwork with no element of assessed performance (such as a practitioner options) will be not be considered full and relevant for the purposes of registration and regulation, which means anyone holding only this qualification can not count in the qualified ratio of staff at Level 3 and will be required to undertake additional training and development and are advised to take a route to Early Years Professional Status.

 

•Certificate of Education and Bachelor of Education and PGCE and QTS

The teaching qualifications listed above are appropriate to be counted in the qualified staff ratio at level 6 if gained in the Foundation Stage or Key Stage One.

[Gezabel]

Me again!

I have just been for a wander on the CWDC site and found this:

 

Sector endorsement is an acknowledgement by CWDC that developed foundation degrees meet the requirements of the workforce and are suitable for use within the sector

 

it is available here: http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/foundation-de...tor-endorsement

 

If you scroll down there is a link to a current list of sector endorsed foundation degrees for all degrees that were granted sector endorsement from July 2008 onwards, This is due to the

'Sector endorsement' criteria changing in June 2008 .

I know that the OU are very good at ensuring their courses meet stringent guidelines and apply for the necessary 'approval' as it when necessary.

I have followed the link and scrolled down with baited breath and yes the OU foundation degree is there

 

I understand that listing every single degree from a huge range of providers was perhaps not great but I do think it was clearer than the new system! It was easy to type in the level of qualification and the provider but now we seemingly 'make assumptions' on the content of our qualifications!

 

Just out of interest I ticked 'level 6' and left the other option as 'all providers' and all that came up was two certificates, QTS and EYPS - no ordinary or honours degrees at all

Edited September 25, 2009 by Geraldine

[belle06]

when i did the cwdc audit week before last the OU foundation degree was on there i searched under open university and there it was along with the certificate in early years practise.

[Guest]

Geraldine, I believe the reason that only QTS and EYPS came up under level 6 is that although the CWDC are not saying degrees are not level 6, the EYFS states that only these two will be classed as level 6 for the purposes of delivering the EYFS.

[Cait]

Thanks Geraldine. I have since found some of that - but not all. I DO think that it would be helpful if they listed them all - I mean, this is their 'raison d'etre' after all! How hard can it be? And as Belle also found, it WAS there, so why take it off?

[Guest]

Yesterday I asked my Tutor at Uni about my degree as it's not listed either. She said the reason its not listed is because CWDC said (after all of her hard work) that degrees are not meant to be on the list at all and that's the reason why some are on and some aren't!

[Guest]

I am also unimpressed by CWDC, I have a Masters Degree in Early Years Education Level 7 From a very reputable University. (Shefflield) that appartently is not recognised by CWDC. I give up! if I'm not qualified after all the studying, expererience and an outstanding Osted I'm not sure I want to specialise here any more. I am starting to prepare for EYPS but it is with a heavy heart as I feel almost sure that once I've got this they'll change the goal posts yet again.

[Guest]

From what I gather from my Uni Tutor the qualifications list is not meant to list degrees only up to and including L4, and possibly L5. Degrees were never meant to be on the list and it is a mistake (not to mention misleading) that some are on and some are not!