§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list the qualifications they recognise as being appropriate for the teaching of 40WA 4 year-olds; and whether they consider a Qualified Teacher Status, with a degree from a Higher Education Institution, to be essential to every school teaching such children. [HL1182]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)There is a range of qualifications held by staff working in early years settings which equip staff with the necessary skills to deliver government-funded nursery education for 4 year-olds, including Qualified Teacher Status. In the context of the promotion of both early education and childcare, the Government have asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, together with the relevant national training organisations, to examine the qualifications framework for the sector. It is the role of the national training organisations to ensure coherence of the qualifications framework and to promote the value of qualifications in the sector.
From September 1999, all early years settings which are part of an LEA's Early Years Development Plan will have access to a qualified teacher to help with the planning of activities and the assessment of children's progress towards achieving the "desirable learning outcomes".