Education Development Trust and DfE Early Years Professional Development Programme garners impressive results as first cohort completes

OCN London are delighted to share that early years practitioners from cohort 1 of the Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP), delivered by Education Development Trust, have now successfully completed their learning and are beginning to receive their endorsed certificates.

The nationwide programme, which was commissioned by the Department for Education, commenced in 2023 with a view to provide high quality, funded professional development to up to 10,000 early years practitioners, over a period of 8 months, incorporating 60 hours of learning.

The programme is delivered through a blended mix of online e-Learning and facilitated webinars with tailored modules based on current early years pedagogy covering Communication and Language, Early Mathematics and PSED, and is aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework.

The impact of the pandemic on young children’s development is well documented and a professional development programme of this type could not be more essential and pertinent at this time.
The EYPDP provides early years practitioners with the skills, tools and resources to help enhance their understanding and skills in supporting the development of the most disadvantaged children between the ages of 2 and 4 years.

Lyn Challender, Programme Director at EDT is delighted with the success of the programme so far and looking forward to seeing many more practitioners completing the programme. She said,

We know that the learning and development of our youngest and most vulnerable children was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and alongside parents and carers, early years educators are key to ensuring that children have the best possible support and education to maximise their learning potential. The Early Years Professional Development Programme, which was designed specifically with the early years workforce in mind, delivers immediate and impactful learning, allowing
those who are supporting children in their foundation years are able to develop and refine their practice.

As the appointed awarding organisation, OCN London worked closely with the team at Education Development Trust (EDT) to provide third-party endorsement of the EYPDP, via the Endorsed service, which gives organisations the option of gaining recognition for the quality of the courses that they have created.
For EDT and this particular programme, it also provides a means for helping them to assess the effectiveness of delivery against the overall aims and purpose of the EYPDP.
Additionally, OCN London have established a custom digital badging system, awarded to individuals completing the EYPDP, as evidence of achievement and skill that can be displayed, accessed, and verified online, to support continuous professional development activity.

OCN London’s CEO, Carlos Cubillo-Barsi said,

It’s really great to see the success and impact that the EYPDP is having so far and the team at EDT are working tirelessly to ensure as many early years practitioners as possible benefit from the training available.
The programme has been designed to provide much needed flexibility for learners, by recognising that individuals might be ready at different times due to their busy work and personal lives, so it’s been designed to be accessible and achievable, without compromising on quality and content. I look forward to seeing the results of the completed programme and the hard work from all involved coming to fruition.

For further information about Education Development Trust’s work and training programmes, please visit their website https://www.edt.org/united-kingdom/programmes/

If you would like to find out more about OCN London’s Endorsed services, visit our dedicated page or get in touch at innovation@ocnlondon.org.uk

PHOTO CAPTION – Claire Heron, one of the successful Early Years Practitioners from cohort 1 receives her EYPDP certification from Local Authority Lead Dr Dianne Borien, Interim Head of Early Years and Childcare, Southend-On-Sea Local Authority.