The Early Years Professional's Complete Companion

This book is the essential handbook to support all those considering or working towards achieving Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) whichever pathway they embark on. 

Organised into three distinct parts, the text starts by leading you through the initial requirements for entry to the programme, providing an overview of the different pathways, before focusing on the standards against which all EYP candidates are tested and then finally looking at the validation process and beyond.

Although closely linked to the standards required for EYPS, the book is not a mechanical standard-by-standard manual but aims to support you to develop an organic, holistic perspective on childcare and education, combining practical skills with knowledge development. The text includes case studies of real practice, ideas for practical activities, further reading, reflection, interviews and advice from EYPS candidates who have successfully negotiated the validation process.

This book is the essential handbook to support all those considering or working towards achieving Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) whichever pathway they embark on. 

Organised into three distinct parts, the text starts by leading you through the initial requirements for entry to the programme, providing an overview of the different pathways, before focusing on the standards against which all EYP candidates are tested, identified as the ‘gold standard’ of educare practice by the Children’s Workforce Development Council and then finally looking at the validation process and beyond.

Although closely linked to the standards required for EYPSand their interface with the Early Years Foundation Stage, the book is not a mechanical standard-by-standard manual but aims to support you to develop an organic, holistic perspective on childcare and education, combining practical skills with knowledge development. The text includes case studies of real practice, ideas for practical activities, further reading, reflection, interviews and advice from EYPS candidates who have successfully negotiated the validation process.

 Key features of the text:

• EYPS standards outlined in every chapter

• Ideas for practical activities and further reading

• Best practice boxes with questions for reflection and advice

• Interviews with EYPS candidates who have successfully negotiated the validation process.

This key text will also be of interest to those embarking on early years teaching qualifications, or engaging in the provision of educare for children under five in non-statutory and voluntary settings, for example daycare managers, playgroup leaders, childminders and home-based parents with pre-school children.

Dr Pam Jarvisis a graduate psychologist, social scientist and educational researcher. She is currently working on the Early Years and Children’s Agenda team at Bradford College as Early Years Professional Status academic programme co-ordinator, facilitating individual programmes for EYPS candidates at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Jane George (M Ed)has extensive experience with the Pre-School Learning Alliance, providing and managing educare for toddler groups and pre-school playgroups.  In her current role of Programme Manager for Early Years and Children’s Agenda at Bradford College she teaches and manages the curriculum across the full range of Early Childhood Studies programmes in further and higher education.

Wendy Holland (MA) taught in mainstream nurseries, primary and special schools for over thirty years. She played a pivotal role in developing the Early Years Professional Status validation programme at Bradford College, and has assessed EYPS candidates at every assessment point since the national programme commenced in 2007. She also trains and assesses students on the qualified teacher status (early years) programme.