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A woman supports a young child as they work together on a homework project, fostering focus and encouragement.

Early Years Lead Practitioner - Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship

Summary

This 18-month apprenticeship has been designed to provide you with the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours required to be an Early Years Lead Practitioner meeting the needs of employers and developing your career opportunities within an early years setting. As a proactive and influential practitioner, you will work directly within children, skilfully leading day to day practice at an operational level.

You may be employed in a range of settings to include nurseries, playgroups, nursery school, pre-schools, kindergartens, primary schools, and social care settings. As an active practitioner you are an effective role model of play based learning supporting others to develop their practice. As a highly skilled professional you will take an operational lead for the care, learning and development of young children.

Next course dates

Start date Location Duration / Fees
Anytime
University Centre
/ £0
Anytime
University Centre
/ £0

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

This apprenticeship will support your development as an early years lead practitioner with future progression opportunities to early years management roles within your organisation or more widely in the sector.

Key information

Entry Requirements

This apprenticeship is aimed at those individuals that are currently employed in an appropriate role within the early years sector and sponsored by your employer. Ideally you should also hold a level 3 qualification in early years and have a level 2 functional skills maths and English or be willing to work towards this. You must also have a current DBS.

You will have a professional discussion with the programme leader to confirm your eligibility for the apprenticeship. If you are not sure that you meet the entry requirements, we would be happy to discuss this with you.

Extra costs and equipment

A computer is also required as all assessments are submitted electronically. You will need to have an up-to-date DBS certificate to be employed in the early years sector. If this is not provided by your setting the cost of the application is at present £38, ID verification through the Post Office is £13 and subsequent applications to the DBS update service are £13 per year.

You may also wish to purchase books to support your studies. Face-to-face sessions, approximately every 4 weeks, will be at the University Campus where car parking fees apply.

What will I learn?

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

You are required to work in an appropriate role in an approved early years setting, for a minimum of 30 hours a week.

How will I learn?

his apprenticeship will be delivered one day a month for 6 hours. This will be face-to-face delivery at Blackpool and The Fylde College. On weeks 2,3 and 4 you will be required to complete off the job apprenticeship activities as directed by your tutor.

Teaching, learning and assessment will take place through a combination of lectures, seminars, group activities, research, presentations, independent learning and the completion of individual reflective journals. You will be supported to develop your digital skills using existing and emerging technologies.

Expert tutors

You will be taught by expert tutors who have a wealth of experience working within the early years sector in addition to teaching across a range of early years programmes from level 3 through to level 6 honours degree.

How will I be assessed?

How will I be assessed?

The apprenticeship is made up of the following modules and comprises:

  • Young Childrens Rights
  • Nurturing play and the early years
  • Key person approach in the early years sector
  • Observing and assessing children
  • Young children childhood and gender
  • Reflective practice
  • Safeguarding young children
  • Diversity, equality and inclusion
  • Multi-agency practice with children and families
  • Interventions to supports children's holistic development
  • Young children's wellbeing
  • Professional practice and action research
  • Leading quality practice Health and safety in the early years
  • CPD, appraisal and supervision
  • Skills and attributes of effective leaders and management

During the apprenticeship you will be formatively assessed in a number of ways to include observations, professional discussions, reflective journals, structured questions and case studies.

The apprenticeship is formally assessed through End Point Assessment (EPA) which occurs at the end of the 18-month apprenticeship. Assessment comprises of an observation with questions, a professional discussion and the completion of a case study report and presentation.