Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner

The aim of the Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner qualification is to support leadership and management skills in early years and the knowledge and skills relating to early years practice.

Learners undertaking the qualification would be working in job roles such as:

• Manager
• Deputy Manager
• Room Leader/Supervisor
• Leader with designated area of responsibility

Upon successful completion, learners can work as an Early Years Senior Practitioner within the Early Years Workforce across the private, voluntary and independent sectors, or progress to higher education in a relevant subject area.

Department for Education (DfE) full and relevant approval
This qualification meets the requirements of the Department for Education’s Early Years Educator full and relevant criteria, allowing the learner, upon completion of the qualification, to count towards the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) staff: child ratio at Level 3.

Aims of the course

These are to:

• Understanding skills to manage others to support children’s care routines
• Understanding and skills required to lead practice in support of children’s well-being and resilience
• Assess the learner’s knowledge, understanding and skills required to lead the promotion of positive behaviour through role modelling and application of child development knowledge and understanding
• Understanding the importance of providing a range of activities, experiences and educational opportunities for speech, language and communication for a child’s holistic development
• Understand the role of the Early Years Manager in effective early education from birth to 5 years: planning and assessment within an enabling environment
• Understanding of how children and young people develop from birth to 7 years
• Evaluate partnership working to support all aspects of development in children
• Demonstrate through own practice ways to encourage and support children to express their feelings, views and hopes

Structure

The units for this programme have been selected to offer learners the best opportunities for progression both academically and professionally:

• Develop and implement policies and procedures to support the safeguarding of children
• Develop health and safety and risk management policies, procedures and practices in Early Years Settings
• Champion equality, diversity and inclusion
• Supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disability in an Early Years Setting
• Work in partnership in Early Years Settings
• Lead and manage a team within an Early Years Setting
• Develop, maintain and use records and reports
• Quality provision in Early Years Settings
• Promote professional development
• Review own knowledge of learning and development for early years practice

How the course is delivered

The NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner is delivered via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which provides access to case studies, learning materials and activities, presentations and web links. Online tutor support and guidance is provided throughout the course, where learners can interact with the tutors, get feedback on their progress and submit their work electronically. This helps you to build the relevant skills progressively, as you receive feedback and support from your tutor during this time. As the course is delivered online, this enables learners to study any time, any place through immediate access to VLE.

Assessment

All units will be internally assessed using an externally set and internally marked Assessment of Learning. EYSP 2 and EYSP 12 would be assessed by using an externally set and internally marked task. Assessment could also include a range of methods which could include direct observation of practice, professional discussion, work product or a portfolio of evidence.