A pre-Christmas educational celebration

An evening of educational celebration is to take place at Rushpool Hall, Saltburn, on Wednesday 9 December.

The evening has been organised by Teesside University funded by the Children’s Workforce Development Council to celebrate the success of the University’s Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) programmes.

The EYPS programmes are available for those who work in nursery and reception (from birth to five) in the private sector, and also for those working in child care such as child minders.

Students who enrol on the EYPS can achieve the status through different routes, the long route including a top-up degree followed by validation, a six-month short route for those who’ve already achieved a degree or a validation route for those with sufficient previous experience and a degree.

Amanda Clarkson, Senior Lecturer in Education, said: 'The government wants to raise standards in the private, voluntary and independent sector (PVI). They are aiming for an early years professional in every children’s centre by 2012 and in every PVI sector by 2015.

'Next week we’ll be celebrating the achievements of those who’ve completed EYPS here at Teesside and hopefully encourage others to consider them. One of our guests is Brian Briggs, the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland. He’s attending as local authorities have responsibility for education in the private sector and he supports our programmes with their aim to raise standards.'

Ros Bayley, an early years consultant, writer and storyteller with a long career as an early years teacher will be the guest speaker.

Other guests will include Professor Caroline MacDonald, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Learning & Student Experience and Liz Barnes the Dean of the School for Social Science & Law.

A short presentation will be made to graduates who have successfully completed achieved their status followed by a dinner and Ros Bayley’s speech.

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