ETS England 

The Education and Training Standards Committee (ETS) is a sub-committee of the National Youth Agency. On this page you will find details of why ETS exists, examples of its work, member information, and contact details for the ETS Officer. 

The National Youth Agency (NYA) are the Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) for Youth Work in England. As the PSRB we are responsible for quality assurance and compliance of all Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) recognised programmes in the country from Level 2 to Level 7, and this function is overseen by the Education and Training Standards Committee (ETS). 

As a sub-committee of NYA Board of Trustees, the Education and Training Standards Committee is chaired by a member of NYA Board and is supported by the ETS Officer. The current ETS Chair is Breda Leyne, who comes with a wealth of experience in education and training. 

“I am delighted to work with the NYA to bring together stakeholders from across Youth Work in England who seek to ensure that there is high quality education and training for youth and community work and to maintain practice standards. There is a strong commitment to support the youth work workforce to achieve high level of skills and experience and to explore new and innovative approaches to professional development.” – Breda Leyne, ETS England Chair 

The ETS Committee has three membership categories: 

  • Representative Members are from organisations within the Youth Work sector who have an interest in the training and education of Youth Workers. Our current Representative Members are – Awarding Bodies Forum; ESB for Community Development; Institute for Youth Work; JNC Employers side; JNC Staff side; Network of Regional Youth Work Units; Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work; UK Youth; Unison; Unite. 
  • Wider Field Members are individuals from across the Youth Work sector who bring specialist knowledge and experience to the ETS Committee.  We currently have wider field work members with specialisms in Christian Youth Work; Rural Youth Work; Community Praxis; Residential Work. 
  • Co-opted Members are those individuals who bring specific experience or knowledge and can make an additional positive contribution to the role of ETS for a time limited period. 

Examples of the work of ETS includes: 

  • Professional validation of Youth Work degree programmes which are recognised by JNC as professional qualifications in Youth Work 
  • Along with ETS Wales, setting the assessment standards and required content for Youth Support Worker qualifications at Levels 2 and 3 (recognised by JNC
  • Producing Annual Monitoring Reports on Youth Work qualifications across England as part of a quality assurance process and means of identifying trends in Youth Work training 
  • Collaborating with sister bodies in other UK jurisdictions on ensuring consistent standards for qualifications 
  • Reviewing the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work 

The ETS Committee is supported by the ETS Officer. If you are interested in becoming a Committee member or would like to know more about the work of ETS you can contact Alia Pike, Education Training and Standards Officer, via email: aliap@nya.org.uk 

Validation

The National Youth Agency (NYA) is the Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) for Youth Work in England. As the PSRB we are responsible for quality assurance and compliance of all Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) recognised programmes in the country from Level 2 to Level 7, and this function is overseen by the Education and Training Standards Committee (ETS).   

As the PSRB for Youth Work we validate professional youth work programmes at Level 6 and Level 7, as well as conduct annual monitoring of these programmes.   

To find a professional youth work programme visit our becoming a youth worker page. Find out more about a career in youth work. 

Annual Monitoring

We produce annual monitoring reports on validated training programmes for professional youth workers. As well as ensuring students receive a good standard of learning, the reports create a picture of the developing workforce and highlights shifts and changes in trends. Read the NYA annual monitoring report 2020/21 by downloading the PDF and infographic below: 

You can also find our previous annual monitoring reports in our resource library.

Professional validation of Higher Education programmes

In order for Higher Education Institutions to offer programmes that confer professionally qualified status for youth workers their courses must cover particular requirements that the National Youth Agency sets out. We have published a series of papers which detail these requirements; these are available in our resource library. 

Professional validation in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland 

We validate professional training programmes in England only. Programmes validated in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have mutual recognition arrangements in place so if your programme is recognised as professional status in one UK nation it will be recognised in all through processes agreed by the Joint Education Training Standards Committee. 

For information on youth work and youth work training in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland contact: 

JNC

What does the Joint Negotiating Committee do? 

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for youth and community workers is the body that sets the national framework used to grade and pay youth work jobs. The National Youth Agency are not part of the JNC and therefore do not have any influence on grade and pay for youth work jobs.   

The JNC also negotiates pay and agrees terms and conditions of service. It consists of an employers’ side and staff side and ensures that all views within the youth and community field are represented. The JNC Secretariat of the Staff Side is Unite and for the Employers’ Side it is the Local Government Association (details below).   

There are two grades within the JNC framework:  

  • Youth Support Worker  
  • Professional Youth Worker  

The JNC recognises youth and community workers’ qualifications which have been professionally approved by the Education Training Standards (ETS) Committee of the National Youth Agency. We endorse Youth Support Worker qualifications at Level 2 and Level 3, and Professional Youth Worker at Level 6 and Level 7.   

Gaining a qualification that is endorsed by the National Youth Agency and recognised by the JNC ensures it is quality checked and fit for purpose. It helps develop youth work practitioners that can meet the needs of young people and employers in the youth work field.  

Many people work with young people without JNC recognised qualifications, often with related qualifications or extensive experience of working with young people. This work is very valuable and contributes positively to the lives of young people. However, gaining qualifications specifically in youth work enables a worker to explore the theory behind youth work, the ethos, principles and practice.  

Terms and conditions

The JNC also negotiates pay and agrees terms and conditions of service. It consists of an employers’ side and staff side, and ensures that all views within the youth and community field are represented. 

Level 3 and 6 Apprenticeship FAQs

1. What is the youth worker apprenticeship?  

The Level 3 Youth Support Worker and Level 6 Youth Worker apprenticeships are work-based training programmes designed to provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to meet the occupational duties of a youth worker. You can read about the apprenticeship standards here  

Youth support worker / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education  

www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/youth-worker/  

The apprenticeships combine on-the-job training which with a minimum of 20% off-the-job learning. For an apprentice employed 30 hours a week, at least 6 of these will be off-the-job training when the apprentice may attend classes or complete assessment tasks. 

2. How long does the apprenticeship last? 

The Level 3 Youth Support Worker apprenticeship is completed over 18 months.  

The Level 6 Integrated Degree apprenticeship is completed over 36 months, although it can take longer if a part time route is chosen.   

3. How much does the apprenticeship cost? 

Most of the cost of the apprenticeships can be covered by the apprenticeship levy, this means there is no cost to the apprentice and only a small cost to the employer, depending on whether they pay into the levy. The maximum amount of funding available to a training provider for the Level 3 is £4500, and for the Level 6 is £20,000.   

If an employer pays into the levy, they will need to pay 10% of the total training costs to the training provider, if they don’t pay into the levy, they will need to pay 5% to the training provider.   

4. What is the apprenticeship levy? 

You can read about employing an apprentice on the Government’s website www.gov.uk/employing-an-apprentice   
 

On this page you will find information about creating an Apprenticeship Service Account which you will need to access the levy. Later this year you will also be able to see a list of training providers.  

5. How can I become an apprentice?  

Usually, you will need to apply for an apprenticeship as you would apply for any other job. You can read about becoming an apprentice on the Government’s website www.gov.uk/become-apprentice where you’ll see information such as wages and holiday pay and how to apply for an apprenticeship.   

If you are currently employed within the youth work sector for at least 30 hours a week then speak to your employer about becoming an apprentice.  

6. I’m and employer, how do I find a training provider? 

All training providers are on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoAPT). You can search the register here www.gov.uk/guidance/register-of-apprenticeship-training-providers  

7. I’m a training provider or university and would like to deliver the apprenticeship.  

We are pleased that you are interested in delivering the apprenticeship. You will need to apply to be on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) and meet the eligibility criteria set out by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). You also need to look at the degree validation requirements here

8. What is the End Point Assessment? 

The purpose of an apprenticeship end point assessment is to ensure that an apprentice has met the occupational duties of the Youth Worker standard. The assessment provides an opportunity for the apprentice to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and behaviours acquired during their learning journey, as well as their ability to apply them to real-life situations.   

You can read about the end point assessment here www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/youth-worker/ under the heading ‘Youth Worker assessment plan’.  

9. What is off-the-job training? 

The aim of off-the-job training is to provide the apprentice with a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical knowledge and principles that underpin their practical work.  

Off-the-job training refers to the training received by an apprentice away from their place of work. This type of training usually takes place in a classroom or training centre and is designed to teach the apprentice the theoretical aspects of youth work. Off-the-job training can include lectures, workshops, e-learning courses, as well as personal study time for the apprentice to prepare for assessments.   

At least 20% of the apprentices contracted weekly hours will be for off-the-job training. The pattern of this will depend on the training provider. 

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