Early Years Lead Practitioner - Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship

Knowledge

Apprentices will develop a strong understanding of:

• Child development from birth to 8 years, including typical and atypical progression across cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and communication domains within diverse cultural and family contexts.
• Theories and approaches that underpin early years pedagogy, play-based learning, emergent literacy and numeracy, and enquiry-based learning.
• The impact of health, nutrition, personal care, and well-being on early development, including strategies to promote resilience and respond to adverse experiences.
• Safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures, including recognising signs of harm, understanding professional responsibilities, and contributing to multi-agency approaches.
• The role of families and the home learning environment in supporting development, including strategies for inclusive and respectful collaboration with parents and carers.
• The creation of enabling environments that support individual learning styles, interests, and needs through thoughtful planning, resources, and relationships.
• Current sector policy, statutory guidance, and leadership approaches relevant to early years provision, professional practice, and organisational responsibilities.
• The importance of reflective practice, ethical decision-making, and continuous professional development in enhancing early years quality and leadership.

Skills

Apprentices will learn how to:

• Observe, assess, and plan for individual children’s learning and development, responding to both typical and atypical needs through appropriate interventions.
• Create and lead inclusive, stimulating environments that promote exploration, curiosity, and sustained shared thinking across individual and group contexts.
• Communicate effectively with children, families, and professionals to advocate for the child’s needs and ensure their voice is central to planning and decision-making.
• Implement safeguarding, health, and safety procedures confidently, including risk assessments, infection control, and physical care routines.
• Use assessment tools and progress tracking to inform planning cycles, identify developmental gaps, and support early intervention strategies.
• Model high-quality practice and provide mentoring, guidance, and support to colleagues to enhance team effectiveness and learning outcomes.
• Reflect on practice using current research and theory, applying insights to improve pedagogy, team leadership, and child outcomes.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with legal and organisational requirements.

Behaviours

Apprentices will demonstrate:

• A respectful, ethical, and inclusive approach that values diversity and promotes fairness within professional boundaries.
• Authentic, caring, and responsive relationships with children, showing empathy and a commitment to child-centred practice.
• Creativity and playfulness in leading engaging interactions that support children’s development and enjoyment.
• Leadership through example, inspiring colleagues and modelling positive attitudes and aspirational practice.
• Flexibility and adaptability in response to spontaneous activity, environmental changes, and individual needs.
• Confidence in challenging poor practice, managing difficult conversations, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
• Openness to feedback and a proactive attitude to learning, development, and reflective practice.
• Professionalism and reliability, maintaining high standards of communication, confidentiality, and collaborative working.

Expert Tutors

All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. This is especially important for apprenticeships where off-the-job training needs to align with apprentices' on-the-job experience.