Professionalism and the Early Childhood Studies Graduate Carolyn Silberfeld Research to Reality Conference Woburn House 14 th March 2006

Professionalism and the Early Childhood Studies Graduate Development of ECS Degrees Aims of the Study Research Strategy Research Design Sample Ethical Considerations

Professionalism and the Early Childhood Studies Graduate Data Collection Questionnaire Response The Interviews Data Analysis Discussion of findings

Development of ECS Degrees better educated workforce, better equipped to provide quality experiences for children (Calder, 1999) link between quality of provision & level of education (Whitebrook et al 1990) Early Childhood Studies (ECS) degrees validated in the UK since 1993.

Issues Rapid development ECS degrees Differences between programmes Graduate employment for those without practice qualification Benchmarking of ECS degrees

Aims of Study To explore perceptions about the preparation of ECS graduates for employment/further study. To investigate the perceptions regarding the status of the ECS graduate.

Research Strategy Flexible design to encompass qualitative and quantitative aspects. Qualitative paradigm – narrative data, perceptions Naturalism (critical realism or post- positivism) - deeper social reality, needs qualitative enquiry (Holliday, 2002).

Research Design Exploratory Case Study Can follow a naturalistic paradigm Allows both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods

Sample ECS Degrees Network (past and present) Purposive sample to encompass range & diversity taken from those who volunteer No need for generalisation

Ethical Considerations Information to prospective sample Informed consent (informed refusal) Procedures of study Recording, storage and use of data Analysis and dissemination of data Confidentiality Anonymity as far as possible

Data Collection Questionnaire to identify more detail about ECS programme and background of respondent. Semi-structured Open and closed questions Interviews with selected sample Loosely structured interview schedule

Questionnaire Response Only 3 received by given deadline re-sent with new deadline 19 returned (16 institutions) – 45.7% 16 completed – all willing to participate further in study

The Interviews 9 selected for telephone interview Geographical spread Range of professional backgrounds Active interviewing (Holstein & Gubrium (1999) Problems with equipment during pilot interview

Data Analysis Questionnaires Matrix constructed to identify commonalities and differences Interviews Phenomenographic analysis - identifying conceptions, looking for underlying meanings and relationship between them (Entwistle & Entwistle, 1997)

Questionnaire Analysis Questionnaires – limited usefulness, other than to clarify diversity of programmes, statistics of students and range of graduate destinations

Graduate Destinations PGCE – Primary/Early Years/GTP P/G – social work/law/midwifery/play therapy/speech therapy Masters/PhD Management/employment in EY Setting Sure Start/other EY projects EYDCP Classroom Asst./support worker/social work asst. Lecturer HE/FE Special Needs Other – includes NGO, working/travelling abroad/librarian/mentoring

Interview Analysis Six themes emerged from data influence of the respondents background preparation of students status of graduates within early years world and within wider world graduate concerns role of early years practice graduate skills

Influence of Background years involvement in ECS Degrees Similarity in professional qualifications of 7 respondents – five teachers and two social workers but teaching and employment histories dissimilar Different reasons for involvement in ECS degree All positive about multidisciplinary and multi- professional nature of degree programmes

Preparation of students Influenced by type of applicant and background of interviewees Practitioners wanting to increase knowledge & understanding Promotion prospects Entry on to professional courses Interest in widening EY field

Preparation of students Preparation for life skills Preparation for graduate skills As advocates for children and families Understanding of what childhood is about – historically, socially, in a health context, not just child development Preparation for management

Teacher Training High % applicants wanted to do teacher training but found other options - perceived early years as a graduate type of specialism Teachers did not always encourage graduates to go into teaching - concerns regarding prescribed curriculum not thought to reflect or meet learning needs of children.

Status of Graduate ECS degree gave graduates higher status within the early years world In wider world status was much the same as majority of those who work with children Status related to salary Awareness that childcare workers were at the bottom of the wage spectrum

Graduate Concerns Finding suitable employment without practice qualification Recognition of degree within early childhood settings Recognition of graduate skills and status of degree for employment in field of early childhood

Graduate Skills Recurring theme in all interviews – reflective & critical thinkers; confident in knowledge and understanding of ECS; good communicators I want to make them powerful, thinking, reflective, honest……all sorts of traditional things you get from a good degree