Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner

This occupation is found in a range of settings which can include day nurseries, playgroups, nursery schools, pre-schools, kindergartens, primary schools, hospitals, social care settings, out of school environments and local authority provision.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to be a proactive and influential practitioner, working directly with children, skilfully leading day-to-day practice at an operational level.

If your role is within one of these settings, you have already achieved a Level 3 qualification, and wish to continue your professional development and progress further, this course is an ideal way to fulfil your ambition of working with children with a higher qualification.

During the course, you will learn extensively about how to become an effective role model of play-based learning and how to support others to develop their own practice.

You will develop the knowledge and expertise to become a highly skilled professional who will take an operational lead for the care, learning and development of all young children, adapting to individual needs and providing inclusive and holistic provision.

You will learn how to engage with sector developments both locally and nationally, with a commitment to developing your own professional and educational competencies.

You will develop the skills necessary to take responsibility for supporting the quality of learning and development in your setting. You will learn the skills to lead on the operational aspects of Early Years provision, and you may become responsible for leading other practitioners.

You will need to have attained a Level 3 Early Years qualification. 

You will also need to undertake the Disclosure and Barring Service process and provide the result.

Apprentices without Level 2 English and Maths will need to achieve this level before taking the End-Point Assessment.

For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.

You will be assigned a work-based assessor who will visit you regularly in the workplace to provide support and guidance.

You will learn mainly through a work-based route. Your apprenticeship will be delivered within your workplace.

It is a requirement that you must receive off-the-job training, which can consist of shadowing, self-study and work-based training.

You will be observed and assessed by your assessor in the workplace when engaging in practical activities with the children and routine activities that form part of your role within the setting.

You will provide evidence of knowledge and understanding through written assignments or professional discussions, with your assessor.

You will use an e-learning portfolio to present your evidence for assessment.

You must complete a Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF).

At the end of your apprenticeship, you will complete an endpoint assessment which consists of an observation with questions, a professional discussion underpinned with a portfolio of evidence and a case study with report, presentation and questioning.

This course will equip you with advanced skills and knowledge of childcare. These will be useful in a wide range of workplaces, such as day nurseries, nursery schools, reception classes and pre-schools.

You could also progress to a Bachelors degree, a Higher National Diploma (HND) and Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE).

As a City of Bristol College student, you may incur additional costs to attend your course. For example, you may likely need to pay for travel and stationery. 

Many courses offer learning opportunities that you may need to pay for. This may include things like study visits and visiting speakers. We will let you know in advance if there will be additional costs.

If you are on a limited income, you may be able to receive help from our Learner Support Funding Bursary.