FAQs about the Childhood Practice Awards
Below is a list of frequently asked questions for those lead practitioners and managers of a day care of children service who, from 1 December 2011, will be required to hold/be working towards a level 9 Childhood Practice qualification.
We hope you find these questions and answers helpful. If you have any other questions about Childhood Practice please email Nina Roberts, SSSC Education and Workforce Development Adviser at nina.roberts@sssc.uk.com
1. Who do the new Childhood Practice Standards apply to?
From 1 December 2011, on re-registration with the SSSC, all lead practitioners and managers of a day care of children service will be required to hold or be working towards a level 9 Childhood Practice qualification. This includes lead practitioners and managers of nurseries, crèches, playgroups and out of school care. The awards currently available that meet this requirement are: the BA Childhood Practice and Postgraduate Diploma in Childhood Practice. More information about where you can study these awards can be found towards the end of this FAQ s sheet.
2. I already have a Childhood/Early Childhood Studies degree. Do the Childhood Practice standards apply to me?
The Childhood/Early Childhood Studies degree is seen as the predecessor to the Childhood Practice award. If you graduated with the BA Childhood/Early Childhood Studies by 2010 then you will not be required to hold or work towards Childhood Practice standards. To register as a manager/lead practitioner with a Childhood/Early Childhood Studies Degree you will also be required to hold an acceptable practitioner qualification. This list can be found at http://www.sssc.uk.com/sssc/all-about-registration/what-qualifications-do-i-need-to-register-with-the-sssc.html
3. I have the BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies. Do the Childhood Practice Standards apply to me?
If you hold the BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies from the Open University, then you will not be required to hold or work towards the Childhood Practice Standards. This only applies to those who graduate with this honours degree before the end of December 2010. To register as a manager/lead practitioner with the BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies from the Open University you will also be required to hold an acceptable practitioner qualification. This list can be found at http://www.sssc.uk.com/sssc/all-about-registration/what-qualifications-do-i-need-to-register-with-the-sssc.html
If you hold a BA Childhood and Youth Studies from another awarding body then this is not acceptable for registration in the lead practitioner/manager category of the day care of children part of the register. This is because the universities who award Child and Youth Studies have concluded it does not meet the requirements of the Benchmark Standard for Childhood Practice sufficiently closely. You will however be eligible to undertake a postgraduate degree in Childhood Practice. This means you will be able to build on your current degree. Please see question below for clarification on how you can meet the Childhood Practice Standards.
4. I already have a degree level/ level9qualification that isn't mentioned above. How will I meet the Childhood Practice standards?
If you are a manager/lead practitioner and already hold a degree level qualification, you should consider undertaking the postgraduate award in Childhood Practice. By choosing this route the course provider needs to make sure there is an opportunity for you to have your practice as well as your management assessed.
The postgraduate Diploma in Childhood Practice is available at Glasgow University Please contact them for further information. Edinburgh University are currently developing a postgraduate Diploma in Childhood Practice. Please contact them if you wish further information.
5. I am a manager of a day care of children service and I am registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. Do the Childhood Practice standards apply to me?
The SSSC cannot require anyone who is registered with another regulatory body to undertake additional qualifications. Childhood Practice is however a degree level award and is offered by a range of providers as part of their modular programmes. It may be that as a registered teacher you would want to undertake specific units on leadership or inter professional collaboration from the degree for your own CPD.
6. I have just qualified as a practitioner with an HNC in Early Education and Childcare and would like to continue to study towards the Childhood Practice Standards. Will I need to have practice experience before I start on a level 9 Childhood Practice award?
Childhood Practice is a leadership award and is best approached by learners who have some experience in the sector. It may be better to wait until you feel you have the necessary skills to offer the programme, however it's always good to think about next steps and you may wish to think about doing some SQA Professional Development Award (PDA) units to prepare you for doing the CP degree.
7. I would prefer to study at college rather than university, is this possible?
Some of the BA Childhood Practice providers have partnerships in place with local colleges to deliver the degree programme. You should contact your local college/higher education institution for more information.
SQA are currently developing a level 9 Childhood Practice award. If approved by the SSSC, this award will be recognised in the same way as the BA Childhood Practice and managers/lead practitioners of day care of children services will be able to use this to register. It is envisaged that colleges/training providers and universities will form partnership arrangements in the delivery of this award. It could be possible that you study the entire Childhood Practice award with a local college. It could also be possible that you study part of the award with your local college and part with a higher education institution. Please contact Karen Sharp (ksharp@langside.ac.uk) or Paul Gallacher (Paul.Gallacher@sqa.org.uk) at SQA for more information on the development of this Childhood Practice award.
8. I am registered as a practitioner with a relevant qualification and I would like to work towards the Childhood Practice Standards.
If you currently hold a relevant practitioner qualification such as the SVQ3 Children's Care Learning and Development or Playwork/HNC Early Education and Childcare, then why not look at working towards the Childhood Practice Standards by undertaking the PDA (which will give you 64 credits at level 8) or the full HND Childhood Practice which will give you 240 at level 8. Having completed the HND you could then progress onto the SQA level 9 award. Both of these awards will give you credit into the level 9 element of the Childhood Practice award.
9. Do I have to start my training all over again to meet the new Standard for Childhood Practice?
No. Childhood Practice is based on the concept that you bring existing credit into the award. Here are some charts that illustrate how this can happen using particular early years and childcare awards as examples:
10. I currently hold the SNNEB qualification, will I get credit towards a level 9 Childhood Practice award?
The SNNB certificate was not credit rated. This is because it pre dates the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. If you do have this award you can still apply to do a childhood practice award. Most awarding bodies encourage applicants who hold the SNNB to submit a learning statement that provides them with an indication of their learning and their potential to do the award. For more information about this you should contact the provider of the childhood practice award directly.
11. Who should I contact if I want to find out more about enrolling on a Childhood Practice award?
The following universities are currently delivering the BA Childhood Practice award:
| University | Contact |
| Aberdeen University | Catriona McDonald: C.Mcdonald@abdn.ac.uk |
| Dundee University | Brenda Dunn: B.H.Dunn@dundee.ac.uk |
| Edinburgh University | Kristina Konstantoni: Kristina.Konstantoni@ed.ac.uk |
| Glasgow University | Mary Wingrave: m.wingrave@educ.gla.ac.uk |
| Strathclyde University | Joan Martlew: joan.martlew@strath.ac.uk |
| The University of the Highlands and Islands | Alice Mongiello: Alice.Mongiello@inverness.uhi.ac.uk |
|
The Open University |
Dr Lore Gallastegi: l.gallastegi@open.ac.uk |
| The Children's House, Aberdeen | Kathlyn Taylor: admin@childrenshouse.org.uk |
| Stirling Council | Anne Emerson-Smith: a.emers.smith@virgin.net |
12. I am a registered Social Worker and I manage a day care of children service, will I have to complete the Childhood Practice award?
No, you will not be expected to complete the full Childhood Practice award. You will be asked, upon re-registration with the SSSC, to obtain 60 credits of leadership and management which maps to the Standard for Childhood Practice. This amounts to 2 or 3 modules from a Childhood Practice programme such as the BA or the Postgraduate route.
13. I am a manager of a day care of children service and I hold a qualification in Community Education which is recognised by the Standards Council for Community Learning and Development for Scotland Approvals Committee, will I have to complete the Childhood Practice award?
No, you will not be expected to complete the full Childhood Practice award. You will be asked, upon re-registration with the SSSC, to obtain 60 credits of leadership and management which maps to the Standard for Childhood Practice. This will amount to 2 or 3 units or modules from a Childhood Practice programme such as the BA or the Postgraduate route.
14. I am a manager of a day care of children service and I hold a qualification which meets the registration requirements of the General Teaching Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council or the General Medical Council, will I have to complete the Childhood Practice award?
No, you will not be expected to complete the full Childhood Practice award. You will be asked, upon re-registration with the SSSC, to obtain 60 credits of leadership and management which maps to the Standard for Childhood Practice. This will amount to 2 or 3 units or modules from a Childhood Practice programme such as the BA or the Postgraduate route.
15. I am a manager of a day care of children service in one of the following professional groups which meets the registration requirements of the Health Professions Council; Occupational Therapists Art, Music and Drama Therapists Physiotherapists Speech and Language Therapists Practitioner Psychologists, will I have to complete the Childhood Practice award?
No, you will not be expected to complete the full Childhood Practice award. You will be asked, upon re-registration with the SSSC, to obtain 60 credits of leadership and management which maps to the Standard for Childhood Practice. This will amount to 2 or 3 units or modules from a Childhood Practice programme such as the BA or the Postgraduate route.
