Foreword June 2008

The Scottish Government response to the National Review of Early Years and Childcare Workforce (2006) specified key actions including developing leadership in the early years and childcare sector by creating a workforce led by professionals qualified at level 9 in the SCQF. At the request of the Scottish Government the Council agreed in January 2008 that awards developed from the benchmark statement The Standard for Childhood Practice should be subject to approval and quality assurance by the SSSC. The Standard for Childhood Practice sets out the requirements that must be met and states that the new programmes must be acceptable to the SSSC as leading to registration as a manager/lead practitioner in early years and childcare services.