During the early autumn we were subject to a detailed Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) audit of our Early Years Teacher Status programme. The audit team concluded that we had made commendable progress on our action plan and that we had maintained all strengths identified in previous audits. Commendable progress is the highest grading QAA awards.

The following areas of our outstanding practice were noted:

• The personal tutor system, supported by regional tutors, which provides excellent support for candidates/trainees professional development.
• The mechanisms and out-of-class opportunities which candidates/trainees can use to contact their tutors are wide ranging. This support is highly valued by the candidates/trainees and recognises their ability.
• The NCTL, to promote teaching as a career, has used a number of Best Practice Network case studies demonstrating this high quality of support.
• The structure of the Prime Organisation's Early Years consortium continues to be an area of good practice. This provides access to the training programmes across a broad range of venues while ensuring consistent high quality.

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the EYPS and Early Years Teacher Status programmes - your work has contributed significantly to this pleasing audit outcome. The full report is available via this link: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Documents/EYPS-MV-Best-Practice-Network-14.pdf