Earlier this week Aspect ran two workshops at the EYP Somerset and North Somerset Conference.

During these workshops, where delegates quickly got “down and dirty” clustered around their flip chart sheets, the EYPs identified the barriers they face, and how to fight back.

Intense discussion in Taunton

As in the Aspect survey, as well as the obvious – pay, roles, careers – a key theme that emerged was the imperative demand for better understanding of what EYPS is and what EYPs do. Obviously this is something Aspect has long been tackling at the national level. However it was also agreed, that every EYP and EYP student also needs to act locally.

And sometimes the best ideas are the simple ones:

• are EYPs recognised on the staff gallery or noticeboard in your setting?
• do EYPs wear badges with their status proudly on display?
• does your setting boast about its EYP(s) in its literature?
• do parents know how their EYP is leading the curriculum?
• have you been in the local paper when you got your EYPS or when you were appointed to your role?
• does your setting celebrate qualifications and training generally?
• have you got the Aspect EYP charter on the wall?

And outside your setting …

• Does your LA encourage parents to ask about EYPs when they visit settings?
• If you are a parent yourself, do you make a point of always asking about a setting’s view of EYPS and tell them you think EYPs are crucial?
• Have you explained to friends and family exactly why EYPS is so important in raising quality in early years?

And then of course there’s the bigger picture …

• Have you and every other member of your local LA network signed up for Aspect?
• Do you talk to any student EYPs about the need to join Aspect and to stand up proudly for EYPS?
• If you are on Twitter or Facebook do you take every chance to publicise EYPs (and Aspect)?
• Has everyone you know signed the EYP payscales petition?
• Have you made sure every MP in your area knows about EYPs and what they do? (See our template letter here)

Simply put, the question is clear: what you have YOU done this week to raise the profile of EYPs?