Equal status and pay for Early Years Professionals

[SueJ]

All signed up x

[Guest sn0wdr0p]

Graham Stuart has got back to me (well his advisor has) and he is going to follow up on his promise to come on the forum. More info about this to come. So you will get an opportunity to raise this as well as other burning issues then.

[Ratatat]

I think I am getting the hang of it. Just wish I had a PA to do it for me, ha ha!

 

And videos now, Rea! How's the twitter take over going, Ratatat?

[Ratatat]

I have received a letter in the post from Graham Stuart. It says:

 

I understand your frustration at the obstacles preventing you from training to become an Early Years Teacher...

I have written to ... Elizabeth Truss MP, to raise your concerns.

I will be in touch again as soon as she replies.

 

So, I will have to see what transpires!

 

Graham Stuart has got back to me (well his advisor has) and he is going to follow up on his promise to come on the forum. More info about this to come. So you will get an opportunity to raise this as well as other burning issues then.

[sunnyday]

The cynic in me wants to say "don't hold your breath"

[Ratatat]

My thoughts exactly!

[Ratatat]

Just need three more signatures to reach the magic 100.

Would prefer several hundred or perhaps thousand more signatures if we are going to have any kind of impact.

 

We need to think about the wider impact on future candidates who may consider training to work in the EY sector.

 

Current pay and conditions do not offer the kind of lucrative deal which will attract those students who are most likely to make effective Early Years Teachers!

[Ratatat]

The petition has 100 signatures. That is good news. The next job is to apply media and social networking influence to multiply those signatures by 100!

 

The Twitter phase is under way (see @clueless1963) and there have been a few re-tweets, including one from @GuardianTeach (The Guardian Newspaper).

 

Thank you to all those who have signed already. Please apply your knowledge and effort to encourage and invite others to join us. Remember not everyone who signs will need to be an EYP or even in Early Years education, Almost everyone appreciates the need for dedication and skill from the team surrounding very young children and this belief should be at the centre of our campaigning.

[catma]

Can I ask - looking at the teach first programme they appear place you in one of their partner schools to train, so how would this work with full time employment elsewhere, given the 80% teaching commitment they require?

 

They also state on their website:

"All applications are looked at holistically so if you feel you have other attributes that contribute to your application but do not fall within the above criteria then we would urge you to apply and outline these attributes on the application form."

So you could put your other qualifications down and see what happens?

 

Cx

Edited June 27, 2013 by catma

[Ratatat]

The following information is taken from Teach First's Website (Available on: http://graduates.teachfirst.org.uk/our-programme/salary-benefits.html, viewed 27/06/13)

 

The training is delivered as part of a full time paid position (@ minimum Unqualified Teacher Status pay scale) for a minimum of two years. The 1st year as a teaching trainee and the 2nd year as an NQT.

 

In view of this, it would not be necessary for me to continue in my current employment whilst I was training. The rate paid to an unqualified teacher is about £16000. - This figure is substantially more than £12600 which I am currently being paid. It appears that the evenings, weekends and holidays that are taken up with my planning and preparation will never be remunerated!

 

 

The email that I originally sent to Teach First clarified all of my qualifications and relevant attributes so I am given to understand that their subsequent negative response was provided in spite of my holistic capabilities.

[Ratatat]

I have received an email from Under 5 magazine who are interested in following my case.

 

It reads as follows:

 

Just to let you know I contacted Teach First r.e. your comments and received the below response:

 

“Teach First is grateful to Under 5 magazine for drawing our attention to this issue. While we have recently expanded our reach to allow successful candidates to train in early years settings – working with children aged three to five in some of the most disadvantaged communities – this took place halfway through our recruitment season. We therefore continued recruiting based on our existing degree criteria for primary and secondary – these vary according to the needs of our partner schools and university training providers and are set out on our website. However, we are now reviewing our eligibility criteria for applicants interested in early years and will be in touch with the candidate concerned to update them on our progress.”

 

I hope this is in some way helpful and very much hope it indicates that they are changing their policy and you’ll be able to enrol on the programme after all.

 

 

As I am yet to hear anything from Teach First that may indicate their change of entry criteria, I am unable to report any improvement to this situation. However, as this may be an evolving issue I will advise the forum if I hear anything.

[Ratatat]

I wonder of any EYPs or other Early Years Practitioners would be interested to take a look at my petition to raise the profile of EYPs so that their Early Childhood Degrees, specific Early Years experience and EYPS can be counted as eligible to apply to train for Early Years QTS. http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/department-for-education-stop-discrimination-against-early-years-professionals Please take a look and pass the details on via Twitter, Facebook or any other social media to everyone you can reach. The more people sign up the better.

 

At present, QTS training providers to not acknowledge the validity of Early Years experience and Early Years degree studies as suitable core subjects to be accepted onto QTS training. They prefer candidates to have Primary school experience and typical core subject degrees in History, Maths, Music, French or similar. Subsequently, unless EYPs can afford to pay for the PGCE in Early Years, they are unlikely to ever get paid an equivalent Teacher's (QTS) wage. This is a total waste of the time, effort and experience of those who really know how to develop children's dispositions for learning.

 

I have also started a Blog about my experiences in applying for additional training to be able to access a decent wage, http://eyptrials.blogspot.co.uk/

I will be very grateful to hear any comments you may have and to receive any additional information that might be of use to the other readers. Again, please pass on the web address to anyone that you feel would be interested.

Thank you

[Ratatat]

I have heard that Teach First are to review the eligibility criteria for their Early Years QTS training: https://www.pre-school.org.uk/sectornews/13/teach-first-to-review-early-years-eligibility-criteria It is unfortunate that the scheme is some years from being rolled-out across the UK.

 

The DfE have promised that they will get back to me within 15 days from today to advise what they think about my general concerns regarding the struggles faced by EYPs who wish to achieve Early Years QTS. See my Blog Update: http://eyptrials.blogspot.co.uk/

[Ratatat]

I have heard from Teach First that following the complaints about their eligibility criteria, they will be reviewing so that Early Childhood degrees and EYPs will be added to the list as suitable qualifications for applying to the Teach First Early Years QTS training.

 

Unfortunately, as the scheme for Early Years is being newly trialled, it may be three years before it is available throughout the UK!

 

The petition will continue so that a fairer financial package can be attained by Early Years Professionals/Early Years Teachers. (http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/department-for-education-stop-discrimination-against-early-years-professionals)

[Ratatat]

I have heard from Teach First that following the complaints about their eligibility criteria, they will be reviewing so that Early Childhood degrees and EYPs will be added to the list as suitable qualifications for applying to the Teach First Early Years QTS training.

 

Unfortunately, as the scheme for Early Years is being newly trialled, it may be three years before it is available throughout the UK!

 

The petition will continue so that a fairer financial package can be attained by Early Years Professionals/Early Years Teachers. (http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/department-for-education-stop-discrimination-against-early-years-professionals)

[Ratatat]

I have received a copy of an email sent by Liz Truss MP to Graham Stuart MP concerning my complaint. It seems that she has not heard about Teach First's change of heart or appreciate the financial imbalance between the pay of QTS Early Years Teachers and that received by EYPs/EYTs. Nor does she seem to comprehend the comparatively poor status experienced by EYPs/EYTs. Details available on my Blog: http://eyptrials.blogspot.co.uk/

The petition will continue so that a fairer financial package and improved status can be attained by Early Years Professionals/Early Years Teachers. (http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/department-for-education-stop-discrimination-against-early-years-professionals)

 

Please pass on the petition link to all Early Years Practitioners who may want a fairer deal for the sector.

[Ratatat]

I wonder what the EY sector will make of this!

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2362692/Liz-Truss-tipped-promotion-cabinet-just-years-MP.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

 

Liz Truss has been tipped for promotion in Cameron's Cabinet reshuffle!!

 

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Personally, I think this is absolutely ludicrous! How can one individual with such minimal skill or experience within the EY Sector be allowed to cause such devastation without castigation. Promotion should be totally out of the question!

 

Has the sector got to pay the price for her ineptitude!

[Ratatat]

I wonder what the EY sector will make of this!

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2362692/Liz-Truss-tipped-promotion-cabinet-just-years-MP.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

 

Liz Truss has been tipped for promotion in Cameron's Cabinet reshuffle!!

 

***********************************************************************

Personally, I think this is absolutely ludicrous! How can one individual with such minimal skill or experience within the EY Sector be allowed to cause such devastation without castigation. Promotion should be totally out of the question!

 

Has the sector got to pay the price for her ineptitude!

[catma]

Personally, I think this is absolutely ludicrous! How can one individual with such minimal skill or experience within the EY Sector be allowed to cause such devastation without castigation. Promotion should be totally out of the question!

 

Has the sector got to pay the price for her ineptitude!

 

To be fair (whilst I don't like what she stands for) she has a wider portfolio than just Early Years education and I'm not sure previous experience is required for any ministerial post is it? After all David laws is responsible for teachers and school improvement but has never been a teacher or senior leader in a school and Jeremy Hunt isn't a doctor!

Cx

[HappyMaz]

Quite so, catma. And whilst we might not agree with what she has proposed, she is carrying out the Government's policies and her effectiveness as a Minister isn't measured by how unhappy we are with her actions.

 

I'm quite happy for her to be promoted. So long as she doesn't get Michael Gove's job (and 'just outside the cabinet' suggests she isn't going to) then I'd say she'll be out of our hair and moving onto pastures new.

 

Although, as I've said so many times before, sometimes it is a case of 'better the devil you know'. Remember how hot under the collar we all got about Sarah Teather?

[Ratatat]

Whilst it is true that Ministers do not need to have previous experience of their portfolio to be assigned responsibility to the area, I do believe that it should be every Minister's responsibility and duty to do sufficient, appropriate research and to take advice from key specialists and consultants in that field.

 

As far as I can make out, Ms Truss has carried out extremely limited research into Early Years, with a strict mind-set to ignore any critical theoretical underpinning or ethical research.

 

Her remit seems to be to cut costs irrespective of how best this might be achieved or with the smallest iota of consideration to the longer term implications for this nation's children.

 

I should clarify that I also feel the same way about Michael Gove and a number of other DfE representatives both past and present!

Edited July 20, 2013 by Ratatat

[catma]

although, as I've said so many times before, sometimes it is a case of 'better the devil you know'. Remember how hot under the collar we all got about Sarah Teather?

How true!!

[HappyMaz]

You may well feel that Ratatat, but I'm sure the higher ups in her party are very pleased with her efforts, which is presumably why she has been tipped for higher office. When it comes to climbing the greasy pole, research only needs to be interpreted in so far as it supports your party's policies. Looking at it from David Cameron's point of view, I'd say she has been fairly effective as a Minister: she hasn't lost her nerve and she has proved to be resilient in the fact of opposition. Both are qualities a Tory minister needs in abundance.

[Ratatat]

Maybe it is about time Ministerial departments and the Ministers therein were made accountable for their deficiencies. Perhaps in a similar way in which Ofsted can intervene at 'Failing schools'.

 

I suspect their would be many EY practitioners and stakeholders who would love a chance at sorting the DfE out and maybe giving them 'Notice to improve' or putting them into 'Special Measures'. However, it would not be a quick and easy job!

[catma]

I think that is the point of a general election.

 

Cx

[Ratatat]

And so we sit and wait until the electorate gets their turn to decide who will next take a turn at running the EY sector into disarray. So when do those individuals responsible for the current problems actually face a 'pay back time'? From where I am sitting, I suspect that in spite of losing their cabinet seats, they will side-step fairly neatly into some kind of highly paid position away from Government. Or maybe they could just write their autobiographies - suggested titles for these best sellers might be:

1. Honey, I shrunk the DfE deficit
2. Going to hell in a handcart
3. The story of my experiments with children
4. The woman who shaved thousands off children's finances
5. What you see is what you won't be getting for much longer

Hang on a minute - This might have the makings of a new parlour game. Maybe I should pack in this job and join the games industry instead!

[HappyMaz]

To be honest, I don't think how early years is run is ever very high on the priorities list for most of the electorate. Certainly not high up enough on their list to affect which party gets into Government.

[Ratatat]

That does very sadly seem to be true.

 

I think most people are struggling to deal with their day to day lives, juggling work, shopping, children, sick relative's needs and individual financial woes. This leaves minimal time for tackling Government failings.

[Ratatat]

Following Nursery World's full page coverage of this story (http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/article/1190525/complaints-spark-teach-fir... ) and some support from several eminent Early Years specialists, the petition now has over 500 signatures.

 

Please sign and repost the petition (http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/department-for-education-stop-disc... ) to your Facebook, Twitter or any other social media sites, and share through email or word of mouth to all your families, friends and colleagues. As the saying goes: "Together we might make a big difference!"

[mollypiper]

All done - good luck