Leading from the floor
What leaderful practice means at Level 5 and your accountability.
Education & Childcare
Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5
Coming in 2027. This programme will not be available until 2027, so register your interest now and be first in when enrolment opens.
A workplace based apprenticeship that turns a skilled early years professional into a confident operational leader.
- Level
- Level 5
- Duration
- 24 months plus EPA
- Route
- Education and Early Years
- Off the job
- 466 hours minimum
- Study mode
- Remote and face to face
- Assessment
- Graded to distinction
- Overview
Twenty four taught modules, one for each month of the programme. Modules one to fifteen move from the role and the child at the centre of it, through development, attachment and regulation, into care, play, pedagogy, communication and the enabling environment. Every module is applied directly to your own setting.
- The role and the child
Modules one to six ground your practitioner in leadership on the floor, child development and the relationships that shape every child's start.
- Care, play and pedagogy
Modules seven to fifteen build expert practice across care, play, communication, the environment and the assessment cycle.
- Applied from month one
Every module is put to work in your setting straight away, with workplace projects and evidence gathered for the portfolio throughout.
- Coming in 2027
This programme will not be available until 2027. Register your interest now and we will keep you informed and reserve your place.
Course content
Twenty four modules
The first fifteen modules are set out below, one for each month of the programme.
The child's voice
Ethical and rights based practice, advocacy and agency.
How children develop
Typical and atypical development from conception to eight years.
What shapes the child
What shapes health, wellbeing and learning, and how to respond.
Attachment and the key person
Attachment theory and the relationships that hold children steady.
Regulation and resilience
Self regulation, wellbeing and the impact of adverse early childhood experiences.
Care as curriculum
Respectful, nurturing care routines led with intention, never a task.
Healthy bodies
Eating, sleeping, physical activity and working with families on lifestyle choices.
Why play matters
Theoretical perspectives of play and its impact on learning and development.
Curiosity and creativity
Stimulating creativity and enabling enquiry based active learning across your aspect.
Talk that grows children
Speech, language and communication development and intervention.
Sustained shared thinking
Extending children's learning and thinking through quality interaction in every context.
The enabling environment
Design, resources and engagement indoors and outdoors.
Observe, assess, plan
The planning cycle, formative and summative assessment and early intervention.
Intent, implementation, impact
Your curriculum, pedagogy and evidence of impact.
What your apprentice will do for you
Lead practice. Takes operational lead for an aspect and models the standard for the team.
Observe, assess, plan. Leads the planning cycle and makes early intervention happen sooner.
Keep children safe. Embeds safeguarding, health and safety and inclusive practice.
Champion every child. Advocates for every child and makes their views shape provision.
Build the environment. Designs and evolves indoor and outdoor provision around real interests.
Coach the team. Mentors colleagues, deploys staff well and gives honest feedback.
Why it works for your setting
Grow your leaders. Develop the room leader or senior practitioner you already employ into a confident lead.
Funded training. Funded through the apprenticeship levy or co investment, within a £9,000 band.
Inspection ready. Practice grounded in theory, research and statutory guidance, ready for inspection.
Real impact. Every module is applied to your own children, environment and team.
Register your interest now and be first in when enrolment opens in 2027.
Register your interest 01254 679998