Credit on the move; Employment FOCUS New SQA framework allows individual learning programmes to be rated and levelled against other work-related schemes.

THE Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) is designed to help both employers and learners understand and compare qualifications and how they relate to each other.

For qualifications or learning programmes to be included in the SCQF, they must have their credit rating and level formally confirmed.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is a recognised credit rating body for this purpose.

SQA first launched its SCQF credit rating service as a pilot in 2004. It is now fully operational and has credit rated and levelled qualifications and learning programmes from a variety of different organisations.

These qualifications and learning programmes are given an official level on which to sit within the SCQF and a rating to reflect the amount of learning that is involved.

One organisation which sought the benefits of credit rating and levelling is the Scottish Fire Services College (SFSC), who submitted seven of the modules from their Firefighter Foundation Programme.

Achievement of credit rating and levelling is extremely important to the SFSC, as the modules within their training programmes cannot be easily compared to external programmes.

When firefighters leave the service, it is very difficult for them to have their learning recognised at the correct level.

Jes Eckford, of SFSC, said: "Leaving the fire service may happen for a variety reasons and credit and levelling will have a positive benefit and will make the transition into other areas of employment so much easier."

The Scottish Childminding Association also felt that putting their Scheme of Excellence forward to be credit rated and levelled was an important step.

The scheme was developed to encourage registered childminders to become actively involved in the development of their services.

The material was designed to allow registered childminders to work through the material at their own pace, allowing them to become familiar with self-assessment and the concept of reflective practice.

Elizabeth Murdoch, head of Childminding Practice Development, said: "By having the Scheme of Excellence credit rated within the SCQF, the profile of childminding has been raised.

"Many local authority childcare partnerships look more favourably on this award, now that they can see the relatedness to nationally-recognised qualifications.

"It also enables childminders wishing to move to other occupations to show their ability to work at this level of competency."

For further information visit www.sqa.org.uk/creditrating or telephone [phone] or email [e-mail]

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RAISED PROFILE: Childminders are benefiting from the scheme