In October 2007 the Minister for Children and Early Years
launched the subject benchmark standard for Childhood Practice.
The standard is an important step in ensuring managers in
the early education and child care sector have the necessary
leadership skills to take forward excellent practice in centres that
children and their families use. It will also inform the programmes
of study and qualifications required by the SSSC from 2011
for those who will be registering as managers of a day care of
children service. Initially only those managers in early years
services will require the award however in due course it will be
rolled out to all managers on this part of the SSSC register.