CWDC, CACHE AND Edexcel joint announcement:

CWDC acts to ensure no learners are disadvantaged in September 2010

Development of the new Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce is on target to deliver to new learners in September 2010 as planned. This is a key part of work led by the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) to rationalise and clarify qualifications and deliver the benefits of the new Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF).

However, CWDC recognises that colleges have advertised existing courses and many learners have already been offered places on them. In order not to disadvantage these learners, and in collaboration with CACHE and Edexcel, CWDC has agreed to support the continuation of the following two NQF qualifications for 16-19 year old college-based learners for the September 2010 cohort only:

• CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education
• Edexcel BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development

These qualifications will continue to carry occupational competence for that cohort and will also continue to be recommended for funding for this period. They will run in parallel to the new QCF Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce.

Pauline Jones, Senior Programme Manager at CWDC, said: We are not prepared to disadvantage learners in our drive to rationalise and clarify qualifications and deliver the benefits of the new Qualification and Credit Framework. We have listened carefully to what awarding organisations have said and have acted to ensure that everyone who wants to take up a place on a course in September 2010 has an offer available to them.

We are supporting the temporary continuation of these qualifications but we expect many colleges to start delivering the new Level 3 Diploma in September 2010, to 16-19 year olds as well as adults, as forefront delivery leaders.

CACHE and Edexcel have committed to working closely with us over the next few months to ensure that the needs of 16-19 year old learners can be met in line with the Government's 14-19 Strategy. This transition period will enable colleges to fully market the new Level 3 Diploma for all new learners enrolling for study from January 2011.

We are working closely with all awarding organisations and UCAS to ensure that the new Level 3 Diploma offers learners a high standard of learning and development, and will allow progression to higher education for those who want to take this route.

Richard Dorrance, Chief Executive of CACHE, said: Our Centres told us that many prospective learners had already chosen the CACHE Diploma for next year, so we're very pleased that they will now be able to register on this qualification up until December 2010. We share CWDC's commitment to ensuring all learners have their needs met, and continue to work closely with them.

Jim Dobson, Director of Product Design and Development at Edexcel, added: Edexcel welcomes CWDC's support in extending the existing BTEC, as this will ensure learners are not disadvantaged during the transition over to the QCF. We are pleased to be working closely with CWDC on the development and delivery of the new qualification for the sector.

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. For further information please contact CWDC Press and PR Officer Melissa Loughran on 0113 290 4166 or mailto:comm_officer3@cwdcouncil.org.uk
2. CWDC has provided details of the Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce to the Learning and Skills Council as part of the Sector Qualification Strategy Action Plan which will inform their funding eligibility decisions. Once the qualification has been developed by the awarding organisations, CWDC will submit details of the qualification to the Joint Advisory Committee for Qualifications Approval (JACQA), for learners in the 14 - 19 age range, for recommendation for the receipt of public funding.
3. Key dates in the development of the new Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce:
   • 31 January 2010: Level 3 units uploaded onto the QCF
   • 21 February 2010: UCAS submission deadline
   • 31 March 2010: Qualification uploaded onto QCF
   • June 2010: UCAS Board
   • September 2010: First cohort starts on the new Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce
4. The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for all vocational qualifications closes to new starters on 31 December 2010. After that, all vocational qualifications will need to be in the Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) and approved by sector skills councils.
5. The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) leads change so that the thousands of people and volunteers working with children and young people across England are able to do the best job they possibly can. We want England's children and young people's workforce to be respected by peers and professionals and valued for the positive difference it makes to children, young people and their families. We advise and work in partnership with lots of different organisations and people who want the lives of all children and young people to be healthy, happy and fulfilling. For more information visit: www.cwdcouncil.org.uk.
6. Edexcel, a Pearson company, is the UK's largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing to schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning in the UK and internationally. In 2008 we delivered 8.2 million exam scripts in over 85 countries, with 4.3 million marked onscreen using the groundbreaking ePen technology. Our general qualifications taken internationally include GCSEs, AS and A Levels, IGCSEs and O Levels. Our vocational qualifications include NVQ and BTEC from entry level to Higher National Diplomas. Our entire vocational portfolio had over one million registrations across 45 countries. www.edexcel.com.

7. CACHE is the UK’s only specialist awarding body for the children and adult care sectors, with a portfolio of qualifications ranging from Entry to Level 6. Last year, over 100,000 candidates registered with us from over 1000 UK based Centres and over 150 overseas. CACHE was established in 1994 as a result of the merger of the National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) and the Council for Early Years Awards (CEYA) and has a heritage dating back to 1945.  Since then, our qualifications have established a reputation for excellence and have supported many thousands of learners through to further study or employment within the Children and Young People’s Workforce. Now, we continue to develop the most up to date and relevant qualifications for the new QCF and work closely with Sector Skills Councils to ensure the highest level of quality and a cutting-edge service to our customers, our learners, and the sector. For more information visit the CACHE web site at www.cache.org.uk. Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (CACHE), Apex House, 81 Camp Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 5GB   Tel. 0845 327 2123