Training and professional development
Qualifications and professional development
Recognised qualifications and accredited training courses play a vital role in developing a skilled, knowledgeable and confident early years and childcare workforce. By investing in staff qualifications and continuous professional development, providers can help ensure that every child receives safe, inclusive and high-quality care and education, while meeting statutory requirements and Ofsted expectations.
The Coventry Early Years Team offers a range of training and professional development opportunities for practitioners working across schools, nurseries, pre-schools, childminding settings, wraparound provision and other childcare provision. These programmes are designed to support and enhance the quality of early years education and childcare across Coventry.
We encourage you to follow our Eventbrite page [http://CoventryCityCouncilEarlyYears.eventbrite.com] to receive notifications about newly released courses and training opportunities throughout the term.
Once you are following the page, you can easily view the full programme of available training through the Eventbrite app by selecting:
Follow:
- Coventry City Council Early Years
- Events
To view course availability and make bookings through our Eventbrite page [https://CoventryCityCouncilEarlyYears.eventbrite.com]
View our termly training brochure. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/45585/coventry-early-years-and-childcare-training]
Training offered by partner organisations
Coventry Speech and Language Service
Coventry Speech and Language Training offer a range of training to support children's speech, language and communication in the early years.
View the training brochure [https://www.coventrychildrensslt.co.uk/professionals/training/].
Oral Health Promotion in the Early Years
The oral health e-learning course (which has been created in collaboration with Warwickshire County Council) is aimed at all early years practitioners including those who support families with children in the 0-5 age group. Please contact Oral.HealthTeam@geh.nhs.uk [mailto:Oral.HealthTeam@geh.nhs.uk] for further information on their training.
Coventry Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) Training
CSCP offer a wide range of multi-agency safeguarding training courses.
Further information and how to book [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/cscptraining].
Coventry Special Educational Needs and Disability Early Years Team (SEND)
The SEND Early Years Team supports the continuing professional development of early years practitioners through a range of training opportunities designed to help meet the needs of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). For further details about their offer [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/coventry-send-support-service/send-early-years-team].
Department for Education training opportunities
The Department for Education (DfE) funds a range of [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-continuing-professional-development-and-support/early-years-continuing-professional-development-and-support]training and support opportunities [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-continuing-professional-development-and-support/early-years-continuing-professional-development-and-support] for early years educators and leaders.
Child Development training
This free training programme is available to practitioners working with children from birth to five years. Based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2], the programme consists of eight modules designed to strengthen practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of child development.
Further information and to [https://child-development-training.education.gov.uk/] access the Child Development Training modules [https://child-development-training.education.gov.uk/]. [https://child-development-training.education.gov.uk/]
Practitioners are encouraged to take advantage of this free opportunity to support their professional development and strengthen early years practice.
Safeguarding training
The DfE has developed free online safeguarding training for early years educators in collaboration with the NSPCC. The training is designed to strengthen practitioners’ safeguarding knowledge and help them identify, respond to and report concerns appropriately.
Further information on this training offer [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/coventry-local-safeguarding-children-board/cscp-training]
Qualifications in early years and childcare
Early years qualification requirements
All early years providers caring for children from birth to five must meet the requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2]. [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2] Providers are responsible for ensuring that staff have the appropriate qualifications, skills and training, including paediatric first aid where required.
The Department for Education (DfE) sets the qualification requirements for staff who are included in the statutory staff-to-child ratios.
Check an early years qualification
Managers and practitioners can use the free Check an Early Years Qualification digital service [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-an-early-years-qualification]to confirm whether a UK early years qualification:
- Is recognised as full and relevant by the DfE
- Meets the requirements for staff-to-child ratios in England
- Allows the qualification holder to count at level 2, 3 or 6
The service asks for key information, including:
- Where the qualification was awarded
- The course start date
- The date the qualification was awarded
- The qualification level
- The awarding organisation/body
At the end of the check, the service provides a clear summary that can be saved or printed for your records
Benefits of using the service
Using the digital qualification checker can:
- Save time during recruitment
- Support effective workforce planning
- Reduce uncertainty when checking qualifications
- Provide a clear record of the outcome
Qualifications gained outside the UK
If you gained an early years qualification outside the UK and want to work in an early years setting and childcare in England, you may need to have your qualification assessed.
You may also need to provide supporting evidence or meet additional requirements before your qualification can be recognised for inclusion in staff-to-child ratios.
Find out how to apply for recognition of an overseas qualification [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualifications-achieved-outside-england/how-you-make-an-application-for-recognition-of-overseas-qualifications]. [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualifications-achieved-outside-england/how-you-make-an-application-for-recognition-of-overseas-qualifications]
You can also apply to UK ENIC for a Statement of Comparability [https://www.enic.org.uk/individuals/statement-of-comparability], [https://www.enic.org.uk/individuals/early-years/international] which compares international qualifications with the UK education system.
Coventry Early Years Team - workforce development
Address: Coventry City CouncilPO Box 7097
Coventry
CV6 9SL
Qualifications offered by local training providers
Coventry Adult Education
Coventry Adult Education offers a wide range of professional development opportunities, including qualifications for those working in, or aspiring to work in, the Early Years and Childcare sector.
These courses can support practitioners to develop their knowledge and skills, gain recognised qualifications, and progress their careers within the sector. Programmes are designed to meet the needs of learners who work, or wish to work, with children from birth to 5 years across a range of early years settings.
Current qualifications include:
- Level 1 Award in Caring for Children
- Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce
- Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner
In addition, Coventry Adult Education offers Early Years apprenticeship programmes, providing an excellent opportunity to earn while learning. Apprenticeships combine practical workplace experience with structured training, enabling learners to gain valuable skills and recognised qualifications while working in an early years setting.
Whatever stage you are at in your career, starting your career, looking to gain a qualification, or seeking to progress into a more senior role, Coventry Adult Education provides flexible learning opportunities to support your professional development journey.
Further information on available courses and apprenticeships can be found on the Coventry Adult Education website [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/adult-education]. Further information about available courses can be found here or in the Coventry Adult Education Choice Magazine [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/coventry-learns/choice-magazine]
Coventry College
Coventry College offers a range of full-time and part-time Early Years and Childcare courses. [https://www.coventrycollege.ac.uk/] These courses are suitable for those beginning their careers in the sector, as well as experienced practitioners seeking to develop their skills and gain further qualifications.
Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training
Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training offers Level 2 and Level 3 childcare qualifications, [https://www.cw-chambertraining.co.uk/] together with apprenticeship opportunities for those looking to begin or progress their careers in the early years and childcare sector.
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick offers the BA (Hons) Child and Family: Early Childhood degree [https://warwick.ac.uk/study/cll/courses/undergraduate/childfamily-earlychildhood/], with full-time and part-time study options available. The programme supports learners seeking to develop their knowledge, advance their careers or explore opportunities in education, social care and family support.