Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner
This course equips early years professionals with advanced leadership, management, and practical skills to excel as Senior Practitioners, meeting industry standards and progressing careers in childcare and education.
Course Overview
- Start Date
- 15 Sep 2025
- Duration
- 1 Year, 7 Months
- Mode of Study
- Part-Time
- Location
- Chaffron Way Campus
- Days
- Mon
- Time
- 09:00 – 16:00
Course overview
This course is designed to help you develop leadership and management skills specifically for early years education. It’s ideal for those already working in the early years sector who want to take on a managerial role or progress in their career through professional development.
As an Early Years Senior Practitioner, you’ll be a positive role model for your team, providing clear leadership and supporting best practices to ensure quality care and education. You’ll work closely with colleagues, other professionals, and families to achieve the best outcomes for children.
This qualification meets the Department for Education’s (DfE) Early Years Educator (EYE) criteria, allowing you to count towards staff-to-child ratios at Level 3 under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Upon completion, you can work as a Senior Practitioner in the early years workforce or progress to higher education.
What will I do?
You’ll gain leadership, management, and practical skills to excel in early years education. The course includes a mix of face-to-face lessons, online learning, and blended delivery.
You’ll complete 18 mandatory units to earn the qualification, covering topics such as:
- Leading care routines for children
- Promoting wellbeing and resilience
- Encouraging positive behaviour
- Supporting speech, language, and communication
- Holistic child development from birth to seven years
- Safeguarding children
- Equality, diversity, and inclusion
- Supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
- Leading and managing a team
- Quality provision in early years settings
You’ll also learn to create and implement policies, develop professional skills, and reflect on your own knowledge to continuously improve your practice.
What’s next?
This qualification opens up several career pathways, including:
Higher Education: Study subjects like Childhood Studies, Youth Work, or Youth and Community Studies.
Employment: Manager, Deputy Manager, Room Leader/Supervisor, or Lead Practitioner in early years settings across private, voluntary, or independent sectors.
Is it for me?
This course is ideal for those currently working in early years settings who aspire to leadership or management roles. You should be motivated, organised, and able to balance independent learning with practical application. You’ll need to be in a role where you can demonstrate leadership and managerial skills or take on responsibilities that reflect these roles.
Entry requirements
Learners must be aged 19 or older. It’s recommended to have GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or higher in English and Maths or a Level 2 equivalent qualification.
How will I be assessed?
All units are internally assessed and externally quality assured. Key units include externally set and internally marked tasks. Assessment methods may include:
- A portfolio of evidence
- Direct observation of your practice
- Professional discussions
- Work products
How will my progress be monitored?
Your progress will be supported through regular one-to-one tutorials, where you’ll receive personalised feedback and guidance to help you succeed.
How can I pay for my course?
There are a variety of ways in which you can get help with fees and funding while studying. Get advice on applying for funding and assessing your eligibility for financial aid here.
This course attracts funding for eligible students, so please check with the admissions team about your own circumstances.
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-
NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner
(A910A-1/2)- Start Date
- 15 Sep 2025
- End Date
- 15 Apr 2027
- Days
- Mon
- Time
- 09:00 – 16:00
- Duration
- 1 Year, 7 Months
- Location
- Chaffron Way Campus
Fees- 16 – 18
- £4670
- 19 – 23
- £4670
- 24+
- £3000
- Overseas
- £3000
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