Tribal to train Early Years workers for Professional Status

In London, East England and South East England

[ClickPress, Mon Jan 22 2007] Education and training specialist, Tribal Group, has won a contract to become a training provider for the new Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) in three regions: London, East England and South East England. Elaine Voice, project director for EYPS at Tribal, explains, “The first five years of life are critical in children’s development and the EYPS demonstrates that holders meet a set of national, graduate-level EYP Standards covering knowledge, understanding, skills, and other professional attributes. This initiative links with the Every Child Matters agenda and will help to raise the quality of early years provision. It offers a new career progress route for those working in the sector. ” The Government aims to have EYP’s in all children’s centres offering early years provision by 2010 and in every full daycare setting by 2015.

Tribal Group are experts in online learning materials and blended learning and have solid experience working with voluntary organisations in the early years and childcare sectors as well as with local authorities. Tribal is one of the largest providers of training and continuous professional development to the public sector and the leading provider of consultancy and support services for transforming education today. It has linked with Newham College of Further Education in London, one of the best FE colleges in London, as the awarding body for its EYPS courses. In addition, it has forged links with two other colleges, Carshalton College and Hertfordshire Regional College as part of the delivery of the EYPS in these areas.

The development of EYPS is being led by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) which recognises the importance of increasing levels of training and development across the workforce and is responsible for driving forward and promoting EYPS by working with partners in the early years sector.

Many EYPS students are in full time employment and so traditional face-to-face courses are not always convenient or possible for them. Tribal is offering a unique blended learning package which allows students to access learning in their own time and at their own convenience through distance and online learning. Tribal offers tutor support via the Internet and over the telephone which traditional training outlets are unable to provide. The company also provides groups with face-to-face tuition and support at times that suit them – for example if a group prefers their face-to-face day on a Saturday rather than during the week that could be arranged.

Elaine Voice adds, “The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has selected a range of providers who can offer flexible training options, not just the traditional routes of higher level qualifications.

Courses start at the end of January/start February 2007 depending on the pathway that the individual chooses. September 2007 and January 2008 starts are also possible.

Candidates can choose from four pathways:
• Validation – 3 months
• Short extended professional development (EPD) – 6 months
• Long EPD – 15 months
• Full training pathway – 12 months full-time

All EYPS training pathways are fully funded so training providers will not charge fees to any candidates. Bursaries are available to students on the full-time one year pathway while employers of those on the part-time pathways are given funding for supply cover. Settings are also eligible for support from the local Transformation Fund via their local authority.


Contact details: Alison.roberts@tribalgroup.co.uk Tel: 01823 353354



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Notes to editors:

1. Tribal is one of the most successful and fastest growing companies supporting the public sector in the UK today. We are a leading provider of professional support services, offering a range of consultancy and delivered services. Our turnover is over £200 million and we employ over 2,300 people from a regional network of offices. Our services are grouped into the following areas: consulting, technology, resourcing, education, property, communications and delivery.

2. Our services are provided to over 2,500 public sector organisations, predominantly within education; health and social care; local government, housing and regeneration; and central government. We work with 80 per cent of secondary schools; 75 per cent of local authorities; 95 per cent of further education colleges; 90 per cent of strategic health authorities; and 75 per cent of NHS trusts.

3. We remain at the forefront of innovation in terms of public service delivery. We are operating a regional network of independent sector treatment centres in England on behalf of the NHS, putting us alongside major international healthcare providers.

4. Tribal was set up in September 1999 by the current chief executive, Henry Pitman. Henry's family has been associated with education and training for over 200 years, beginning with his ancestor's pioneering system for shorthand. The idea and inspiration for Tribal Group was the realisation that the public services modernisation agenda presented a market opportunity for the private sector to offer additional innovation and skills.

5. The name 'Tribal' was chosen to reflect the nature of how the company was formed and has grown. The businesses that have joined the Group did so because they shared a common vision and a similar set of values, but also because they accepted that they were stronger together than they would be on their own.

6. Since 1999, the company has grown from three employees to 2,300. Turnover has increased from £15m in 2000 to £214m in 2006.


For further information, interview requests or interviews, please contact:
Catherine Dhanjal, TheAnswer Ltd Tel: 01883 650434 or 0794 166 9925
Email: catherine.dhanjal@theansweruk.com

Date: 22 January 2007 Ref: TA-368

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