Early Years Professional Status

Start date: September

Course length: Between six and 12 months of either full or part time study depending on the pathway you choose  

Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

To achieve Early Years Professional Status, you'll need to demonstrate that you meet a set of national standards that indicate what you must know, understand and be able to do. They cover working safely with babies, toddlers and young children from birth to the end of the new Early Years Foundation Stage (five years old).

There are eight standards in total, with a number of supporting statements for each standard:

As an Early Years Professional, you'll:

• be part of the team working with children in early years settings or wider children's services
• take responsibility for leading and managing play, care and learning
• have a secure and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of early years practice with children from birth to five
• lead and support other staff by helping them develop and improve their practice
• establish and maintain positive relationships with children
• communicate and work in partnership with families, carers and other professionals.

There are four ways that you can complete to achieve Early Years Professional Status:

The graduate practitioner pathway (GPP)

You can complete this pathway if you are a graduate working in the sector and you require a small amount of learning or experience before you can demonstrate the EYP standards. If you feel that you need more experience in a certain area, for example with babies, then a relevant placement will be offered, so that you can feel confident in the area. You'll study this pathway part time.

The undergraduate practitioner pathway (UPP)

If you're already working in the sector with a level 5 qualification, for example a foundation degree in early years, then this pathway is for you. It will allow you to 'top up' your foundation degree to a full degree. You'll study this part time.

The graduate entry pathway (GEP)

If you have a degree but have limited experience of working with children from birth to five years old, then this pathway will allow you to pursue your career of working in early years. You will undertake a minimum of two work-based training placements in different settings before assessment for EYPS. This will allow you to develop your personal practice and leadership skills in the delivery of the EYFS and your competence in working with children and families. You will be required to keep a reflective log of the placement experience, recording links to the EYPS Standards and your own personal practice and/or leadership and support of colleagues. You must undertake a total of at least 18 weeks work-based training placement. You'll study this pathway on a full time basis.

The undergraduate entry pathway (UEP)

This pathway is only available from September 2012. If you are currently completing a degree in Early Childhood Studies, then this pathway is for you. You will undertake a minimum of two work-based training placements in different settings before assessment for EYPS. This will allow you to develop your personal practice and leadership skills in the delivery of the EYFS and your competence in working with children and families. You will be required to keep a reflective log of the placement experience, recording links to the EYPS Standards and your own personal practice and/or leadership and support of colleagues. You must undertake a total of at least 18 weeks work-based training placement. You'll study this pathway on a full time basis.

What you’ll study

To achieve Early Years Professional Status, you’ll need to  demonstrate that you meet a set of national standards covering what you must know, understand and be able to do.  They cover working safely with babies, toddlers and young children from birth to the end of the new Early Years Foundation Stage (five years old).

There are standards that will allow you to show your knowledge and practice in relation to:

• knowledge and understanding effective practice relationships with children
• communicating and working in partnership with families and carers
• teamwork and collaboration
• professional development.

Your learning will be focused on these key areas to make sure that you have the skills and competencies to take responsibility for leading and managing play, care and learning.

It’s also vital that you’re able to lead and support other staff by helping them to develop and improve their practice. Having an up to date knowledge and understanding of early years practice will equip you to do this. And, of course, you’ll need to establish and maintain positive relationships with children, their families and carers and other professionals.

How you'll learn

You will attend face-to-face sessions, called Preparation Days to learn more about EYPS and prepare for the assessment.

Workshops will be held in the university covering more in depth reflection on the different groups of standards.  You will contribute to discussions around your own practice and how you meet the different EYPS standards.

Depending on your pathway you'll also attend modules to develop and promote your understanding of early years practice. 

You will also complete a Professional Workplace Practice booklet where you can record your reflections linked to your own practice.  These reflections will support your final assessment for Early Years Professional Status.

Midway through the course you will undertake a 'development & progress review' to determine how you're doing.  You'll receive an action plan to support your progress towards achieving a successful assessment outcome.

How you're assessed

Your final assessment includes:

a portfolio/file of evidence which includes at least three witness statements relating to your practice against the EYP Standards;
a series of assignments designed to highlight/assess your knowledge and understanding of the standards;
a single setting visit during a working day where you will demonstrate practice against the standards;
an interview

As everyone must demonstrate the same standards to achieve Early Years Professional Status, your current and future employers will be confident that you've reached a high level of professional competence. So you'll be able to work in a range of early years settings.

"As childcare and curriculum manager, my role is all about empowering staff and overseeing quality in the group, and I believe my EYPS has been a vital contribution to this."
Lisa Snell, one of our graduates. Read Lisa's full story here.

"The prospect of undertaking EYPS was overwhelming and intimidating, but as soon as I walked into the interview I was greeted by friendly, welcoming and an exceptionally supportive team. I definitely felt that this was the path for me. It has helped me become more confident, a better leader, and I have had an amazing opportunity to build professional relationships with mentors, tutors, colleagues and fellow EYP's. It was a pleasure to be apart of the EYPS experience at Derby University."
Sara Iqbal, Practitioner at The First Day Nursery

"Having completed my EYP, I now feel greater confidence when supporting the settings in my area as LA Early Years Improvement Officer. I particularly enjoyed using my experiences to reflect on what i actually do and know and the staff at Derby helped us all grow in confidence."
Angela Donaldson, Local Authority Early Years Improvement Officer

"An EYP brings ideas and energy into a setting, their ideas and skills ensure they are an excellent role model to practitioners within the nursery."

Sophie Nightingale, Graduate Entry Pathway EYPS Candidate