Apprenticeship Programmes

Level 2:
Early Years Practitioner

Early years practitioners support the learning and development of children in the early years, working and interacting directly with children on a day to day basis supporting the planning of and delivery of activities. Suitable for those with no prior childcare experience.

This occupation is found in a range of private and public settings including; full day care, children’s centres, pre-schools, reception classes, playgroups, nursery schools, home based provision, hospitals, social care settings, out of school environments and local authority provision.

Early years practitioners will deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements set by government for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5.

Early years practitioners support activities based around the needs of individual children, supporting their learning and development.

Typical job titles include: Nursery Assistant, Early Years Practitioner, Nursery Practitioner, Nursery Nurse, Assistant Childminder, Nanny and Early Years Worker.

Qualifications included in the apprenticeship:

DURATION: 12-14 months duration

OFF-THE-JOB-LEARNING: A minimum of 6 hours of contracted hours to be spent on off-the-job learning activities.

DELIVERY: Mixture of online and onsite delivery.

END POINT ASSESSMENT: Professional discussion (with portfolio of evidence) and multiple choice knowledge test with 40 questions.

Level 3:
Early Years Educator

Early years educators are highly trained professionals who play a key role in ensuring that young children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.

They provide critical early education in the key formative years that will set a child up for the rest of his or her life.

Early Years Educators work in a range of settings including full day care, children’s centres, pre schools, reception classes and as childminders. They may either be working on their own or supervising others to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements set by Government for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old.

Examples of what Apprentices will learn:

• The expected patterns of children’s development from birth to 5 years, and have an understanding of further development from age 5 to 7.
• The significance of attachment and how to promote it effectively.
• A range of underpinning theories and philosophical approaches to how children learn and develop, and their influence on practice.
• Systematic synthetic phonics in the teaching of reading, and a range of strategies for developing early literacy and mathematics.
• The current early education curriculum requirements such as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Apprentices will be able to:

Provide learning experiences, environments and opportunities appropriate to the age, stage and needs of individual and groups of children.

Typical job titles include:

Early Years Educator, Level 3 Early Years Practitioner, Childminder, Nursery Nurse, Early Years Assistant.

Qualifications included in the apprenticeship:

DURATION: 12-18 months duration.

OFF-THE-JOB-LEARNING: A minimum of 6 hours of contracted hours to be spent on off-the-job learning activities.

DELIVERY: Mixture of online and onsite delivery.

END POINT ASSESSMENT: Professional discussion (with portfolio of evidence) and multiple choice knowledge test with 35 questions.

Level 3:
Teaching Assistant

Teaching Assistants work in Primary, Special and Secondary education across all age ranges encompassing special educational needs and emotional vulnerabilities.

The primary role of the Teaching Assistant is to support the class teacher to enhance pupils’ learning either in groups or individually, ensuring pupils understand the work set, know their learning objectives and stay on task in order to make progress.

Promoting self-belief, social inclusion and a high self-esteem play an integral part to pupils’ well-being; ensuring pupils thrive in a positive, nurturing, safe environment.

It is an active role supporting the learner to access the curriculum. They are good role models, act with honesty and integrity, take part in team meetings; contribute to planning and class activities. Promoting Fundamental British Values through spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and positive behaviours are crucial in contributing to improved pupil progress and development.

PROGRESSION:

As well as ensuring full competency as a Teaching Assistant, this standard provides a foundation for potential progression into a number of career paths in the Educational sector including Higher Level Teaching Assistant, Assistant Teacher and Teacher.

Qualifications included in the apprenticeship:

DURATION: 12-18 months duration.

OFF-THE-JOB-LEARNING: A minimum of 6 hours of contracted hours to be spent on off-the-job learning activities.

DELIVERY: Mixture of online and onsite delivery.

END POINT ASSESSMENT: Practical Observation (2 hours) followed by question and answer session (15 minutes); Professional Discussion (90 minutes).

Level 3:
Team Leader/Supervisor

Managing teams and projects to meet a private, public or voluntary organisation’s goals.

A team leader/supervisor is a first line management role, with operational/project responsibilities or responsibility for managing a team to deliver a clearly defined outcome. They provide direction, instructions and guidance to ensure the achievement of set goals. Working in the private, public or third sector and in all sizes of organisation, specific responsibilities will vary, but the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed will be the same whatever the role.

Key responsibilities are likely to include supporting, managing and developing team members, managing projects, planning and monitoring workloads and resources, delivering operational plans, resolving problems, and building relationships internally and externally.

Roles/Occupations may include:  Supervisor, Team Leader, Project Officer, Shift Supervisor, Foreperson, and Shift Manager.

On completion, apprentices may choose to register as Associate members with the Chartered Management Institute and/or the Institute of Leadership & Management, to support their professional career development and progression.

Qualifications included in the apprenticeship:

DURATION: 12-18 months duration.

OFF-THE-JOB LEARNING: A minimum of 6 hours of contracted hours to be spent on off-the-job learning activities.

DELIVERY: Mixture of online and onsite delivery.

END POINT ASSESSMENT: Presentation (20 minutes) with question and answers (30 minutes); Professional discussion (60 minutes).

Level 4:
Children Young People and Families Practitioner (Residential Care Pathway)

Residential care practitioners work with children, young people and families, including carers, to achieve positive and sustainable change in their lives.

Residential care practitioners are highly skilled in recognising and assessing the complex needs that children, young people and families often present.

Apprentices will work alongside other professionals and organisations to share the responsibility for improving outcomes. Each piece of work with a child or family will be different and you will exercise judgement on a range of evidence-based approaches to inform your practice. You will regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your methods and actions. Regular supervision with an experienced practitioner will encourage reflection on your practice. At the end of the apprenticeship the high quality of your practice will be making a real difference to those that you work with.

You could be working in a number of settings e.g. a children’s home, a residential special school or a secure children’s home. The children might be living on their own or in a larger group. You will take the lead in developing and delivering the child’s placement plan and will work with the child to support their health, education, social and day to day needs, playing a significant role in helping them to thrive and fulfil their potential.

Qualifications included in the apprenticeship:

PEARSON LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA IN RESIDENTIAL CHILDCARE

DURATION: 18-24 months duration.

OFF-THE-JOB LEARNING: A minimum of 6 hours of contracted hours to be spent on off-the-job learning activities.

DELIVERY: Mixture of online and onsite delivery.

END POINT ASSESSMENT: Practical observation (60 minutes) and question and answer session (20 minutes); Competence Interview with accompanying portfolio.

Level 5:
Early Years Educator

Early Years Lead Practitioners (EYLPs) works directly with children at an operational level, skilfully leading day to day practice in a range of settings, including day nurseries, playgroups, nursery schools, pre-schools, kindergartens, primary schools, hospitals, social care settings, out of school environments and local authority provision.

They are highly skilled professionals who take a leading role in providing care and education in the early years, keeping up to date with sector developments. ELYPs interact with children, families, practitioners and other professionals and agencies. They take responsibility for supporting the quality of learning and development in their setting, and are typically responsible for leading other practitioners to ensure the curriculum is compliant with relevant frameworks and enables every child to thrive and reach their potential.

ELYPs may report to the head of the setting (e.g. the Manager, Owner or Director).

Examples of job titles for ELYPs include: Assistant Manager, Deputy Manager, Early Years Lead, Early Years Coordinator, Early Years practitioner, Higher Level Teaching Assistant, Room Leader, Hospital play worker.

Qualifications included in the apprenticeship:

DURATION: 18-24 months duration.

OFF-THE-JOB-LEARNING: A minimum of 6 hours of contracted hours to be spent on off-the-job learning activities.

DELIVERY: Mixture of online and onsite delivery.

END POINT ASSESSMENT: Observation of practice (60 minutes) followed by questions (30 minutes); Professional Discussion (60 minutes); Case Study report (4000 words) and presentation on their case study with questions (20 minutes).

Level 5:
Children Young People and Families Manager

As a residential care manager, you will ensure direction, alignment and commitment within your own practice, your team(s), your organisation and across partnerships to help children, young people and families aspire to do their best and achieve sustainable change.

You will build teams, manage resources and lead new approaches to working practices that deliver improved outcomes and put the child, young person or family at the centre of practice.

You may work either as a Manager in Children’s Residential Care or as a Children, Young People and Families Manager in the Community in a range of settings in local authorities, within health organisations, educational and early years settings or children’s centres, as well as a wide range of private voluntary and community organisations. You could be solely responsible for the management of a team or service, or be part of a management team. To deliver effectively on a wide range of outcomes you will work on a multi agency basis with professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, as well as team leaders and managers from your own organisation.

With a focus on excellence in practice and improved performance, you will encourage Children, Young People and Family Practitioners to gain the skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours that will enable them to actively support each child, young person, young adult and family to achieve their potential. You will inform and improve practice by acting on research and new developments into how the needs of children, young people and families are best met. You will model the behaviours that encourage reflective practice, professional confidence and humility. You will challenge and support practitioners and ensure their practice is safe. You will develop and lead an ethos that will enable and inspire practitioners to make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and families.

Qualifications included in the apprenticeship:

PEARSON LEVEL 5 DIPLOMA IN LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT FOR RESIDENTIAL CHILDCARE

DURATION: 18-24 months duration.

OFF-THE-JOB LEARNING: A minimum of 6 hours of contracted hours to be spent on off-the-job learning activities.

DELIVERY: Mixture of online and onsite delivery.

END POINT ASSESSMENT: Situational Judgement Test (2 hours) consisting of nine situations (minimum 50% pass criteria); Competence Interview with accompanying portfolio (50-65 minutes).