Improving status of men

Tom Guppy recently completed Best Practice Network's full pathway in Devon. Here, he recounts his journey to achieving Early Years Professional Status (EYPS).

'I have just achieved EYPS status following a year on the full pathway. I intend staying in the early years sector for the foreseeable future and will continue to promote the early years to more men around the country.

'I finished university with a degree in Sports Development. I wanted to broaden my horizons of working with children and decided to take a job in the local Montessori nursery to find out if this was the best route for me. Following a very enjoyable six months, I decided to undertake EYPS to build on my existing knowledge and understanding of how children learn and develop, and to develop my skills of leading practice.

'The EYPS course did exactly that! I learnt from valuable first-hand experience through my placements and mentors - from changing a nappy to feeding babies, to teaching young children literacy and numeracy skills. At the same time I built up my understanding of child development and how to meet children's needs through the Early Years Foundation Stage.

'EYPS is important in encouraging men to see there is a role for them with young children because it provides such a well structured and balanced approach towards training, leadership and management in nursery settings. The full pathway challenged my thinking in a very practical way. I chose the Best Practice Network course because it is the way I like to learn - through a blend of work-based learning, independent study and e-learning methods.

'As an EYP, I am modelling and leading effective practice which has an impact on how male practitioners are viewed by the parents and carers, colleagues and, most importantly, by the children. I am demonstrating that men can provide effective practice on a daily basis and can establish and sustain positive relationships. I am working hard to build on the improvements that are being made at the nursery and celebrating the success that has already been achieved in the setting.'

Although there are policy and strategic drivers that identify potential benefits for children of both men and women practitioners, there has, so far, been limited success in increasing the number of men working in the early years. Of the 335 EYPs who have worked with us at Best Practice Network, only nine have been men - under three percent. All EYPS providers are working closely with the CWDC to raise the profile of EYPS and to work towards a balanced workforce, representative of society - we expect to see changes over the next few years.

'At Best Practice Network we have been working with Janine Ryan, EYPS assessor and lecturer at one of our partner colleges, who has just completed her MA research on the motivations, challenges and barriers that affect men in early years. Her research, Who says it's a man's world?, concludes that men share the same motivation as women - to make a positive difference to children's lives.

But things can be difficult for men - Janine highlights the complexities, issues and barriers men face, for example stereotypes, gendered role expectations and the debate around men as rolemodels. For example:

• So many job titles and qualification pathways. Career pathways are not clear cut or easily understood.
• Male practitioners see themselves as stable male role-models who can challenge stereotypical behaviour by being caring, loving and nurturing - qualities traditionally associated with women. In many ways they also provide typically 'masculine' input - for example, rough and tumble play.
• Male practitioners face barriers because they are men. Many were aware of being under closer scrutiny from parents and others professionals.
• For men, early years is often not their first choice of career - it is often a serendipitous second career option. Better informed careers advice at schools and colleges is needed to attract men into early years care and education as a positive career choice.

Janine agrees with Tom Guppy that the establishment of EYPS is making a difference to the profile of men in early years. EYPS recruitment campaigns have signalled that early years has a career progression and that men are positively welcomed into the early years profession. Janine concludes that: 'Male practitioners offer an added dimension to the staff team and prompt new ways of working with children and in the drive to enhance provision for the under fives.'

If you would like to contact Janine to find out more about her research, please email her at Janine.ryan@don.ac.uk.

EYE Volume 11, No 11, March 2010

Reproduced with permission. Early Years Educator (c)2010 MA Education Limited.

EYE is available through subscription or from selected newsagents and bookstands. It features a broad range of professional articles for practitioners who are serious about developing their career including information for those working, or wanting to work, in early years and attain the Early Years Professional Status (EYPS).