Progress for Success (PfS) Strand 2

Descriptions

The Welsh Government is seeking potential suppliers to register their interest in undertaking the requirement delineated below. This opportunity will be subject to a future formal tender procedure:A European Structural Funds (ESF) operation, Progress for Success, has been developed alongside the Welsh Government’s wider approach of developing a 10-year workforce plan for the Early Years, Childcare and Play workforce.Progress for Success (PfS) will support the delivery of particular recommendations under Theme 3: Raising the skills and standards across the existing workforce, of the workforce plan.The main purpose of PfS is to increase the quality of childcare and early education; by increasing the levels of recognised childcare and play qualifications held by the existing early years, childcare and play workforce.Progress for Success has two separate strands:•Strand 1 is the main focus of PfS and proposes to fund existing practitioners, who currently hold no or low level recognised childcare and play qualifications, up to Level 3; and•Strand 2 of PfS proposes to fund existing practitioners through new qualifications at Levels 4 to 6. Care Council for Wales and Qualifications Wales are supporting HEIs in taking forward the development of the new qualifications and these are to be in place from September 2016. Initially Strand 2 will provide around 370 qualifications up to Autumn 2018. It is expected, however, that a second tranche of around a further 340 qualifications will be agreed for delivery between 2018 and 2021.Welsh Government wishes to test the market for the delivery of Strand 2, as outlined above.Requirement:The requirement will be for delivery of prescribed qualifications at Levels 4, 5 and 6 across the whole of Wales; West Wales and the Valleys (WWV) and East Wales (EW). However, potential tenderers should note that only WWV is eligible to draw on ESF funding. The delivery model will include both academic and work-based learning progression towards a Graduate Certificate (level 6) in Childhood Practice.The delivery model is envisaged to be a progression route which allows participants to enter at whatever level is appropriate to take advantage of (providing they have the required qualifications) and allows participants to exit at whatever level they choose. Entry requirements will be set in due course, however we anticipate that the successful deliverers will recognise learners’ previous educational and experiential learning; therefore any recognised Childcare and Play Level 3-5 qualifications achieved would be relevant alongside their experience in the workplace.Step 1: Level 4 HE Certificate in Childhood PracticeThis new qualification will extend, enhance and test the knowledge of learners and facilitate a consistency of outcome in relation to theory and links to practice. The Level 4 will also be an optional building block towards a degree in childhood practice or a HE Diploma in Childhood Practice or the Graduate Certificate. This first step should be offered as an HE Certificate or 120 credits at level 4.Step 2: Level 5 HE Diploma in Childhood PracticeA level 5 Dip HE that offers Level 5 learning: including 80 credits of Level 5 Advanced Practitioner or CCLD Management QCF Diplomas depending on participants’ experience, plus 40 or 60 credits of academic learning relating to practice in early years settings. (This would again be aligned to the full-time degree programme and have links to work based learning directly through the inclusion of the QCF Level 5 qualifications).Step 3: Graduate Certificate in Childhood Practice Management (level 6)This would require a minimum of 60 credits at level 6 against the Childhood Practice Standards.Further requirements:The initial number of qualifications to be delivered across the two separate regions within Wales are as follows:West Wales and the Valleys (WWV)115 Level 4 HE Certificates in Childhood Practice90 Level 5 HE Diploma in Childhood Practice50 Level 6 Graduate Certificate in Childhood Practice ManagementEast Wales (EW)55 Level 4 HE Certificates in Childhood Practice45 Level 5 HE Diploma in Childhood Practice21 Level 6 Graduate Certificate in Childhood Practice ManagementIt is essential that providers achieve an 85% completion on the targets stated above.It is essential that the proposed model responds to the needs of Welsh-medium participants, and that arrangements are in place to enable equal access to the qualifications through the medium of Welsh on participant choice where they are based within Welsh-medium settings. Bilingual provision must also be available for those Welsh speaking participants within English-medium / bilingual settings.It is essential that the qualifications are able to be delivered flexibly (e.g. by using electronic and blended means of learning and / or twilight college attendance and work based learning methodologies etc.) to limit the time participants spend out of their work setting.This Expression of Interest will require the bidding institution to have HE qualification awarding powers. These are contained within of section 214 of the Education Reform Act 1988, as the requirements include developing and awarding HE Certs, Dips and Graduate Certificates.Any Expression of Interest (EOI) from a Consortia would need to identify the lead bidder and respective partnerships.Please note that funding will only be available for participant training and not for development or set up of the course provision.As the requirement forms part of an ESF operation (PfS) it will be important for potential bidders to be aware that there are stringent WEFO reporting requirements placed on ESF operations. Therefore, tenderers will be required to collect and report such data to the Welsh Government.NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at http://www.sell2wales.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=41150.