Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship

The Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship is an advanced childcare and leadership programme designed for experienced early years professionals who want to progress into senior, specialist or leadership roles within early years settings.

Early Years Lead Practitioners play a key role in improving the quality of education and care within nurseries, preschools and other childcare environments. They support curriculum development, mentor colleagues, lead high-quality practice and help create safe, inclusive and engaging learning environments for children.

This apprenticeship is suitable for experienced Early Years Educators, Room Leaders, Senior Practitioners and other childcare professionals looking to build their leadership, mentoring and management skills while continuing to work within an early years setting.

Learners should already have experience working within childcare or early years education and be employed in a role where they can demonstrate leadership responsibilities throughout the apprenticeship.

Qualified Early Years Lead Practitioners can work in a wide range of early years and childcare settings where they support high-quality practice, mentor staff and help lead children’s learning and development.

These settings may include:

• Day nurseries
• Preschools
• Nursery schools
• Reception classes
• Children’s centres
• Private childcare settings
• Early years SEND provision
• Multi-site nursery groups and childcare organisations

The Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship helps learners develop the leadership, mentoring and quality improvement skills needed to support teams, strengthen practice and progress into senior roles across the early years sector.

Learners should ideally already hold a Level 3 Early Years qualification or equivalent and have experience working within an early years setting.

Apprentices should be employed in a role that allows them to demonstrate leadership, mentoring or quality improvement responsibilities as part of the programme.

Learners without GCSE Maths and English at grade 4/C or above may need to complete Functional Skills qualifications depending on current apprenticeship requirements.

You can learn more about apprenticeship eligibility, funding and Functional Skills support within our Learner and Employer Hub.

You will develop advanced knowledge of child development, safeguarding, health and wellbeing, pedagogy, curriculum and leadership. The programme focuses on reflective practice, leading teams, partnership working with parents and maintaining effective systems such as assessments and records. Overall, you will gain the skills and confidence you need to lead high-quality practice and drive continuous improvement within your childcare or education setting.

Off-the-job training is structured learning that takes place during your paid working hours but is separate from your normal day-to-day duties. You’re required to complete a minimum of six hours per week of this training to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for your apprenticeship. Activities can include online learning, workshops, research, mentoring and other development tasks relevant to your role.

You can also use our Learner Enrichment Calendar to help plan and log suitable off-the-job activities that count towards your training hours, giving you a variety of ways to grow your skills throughout the programme.

All off-the-job training hours must be recorded on your e-portfolio system, Aptem, to ensure your progress is tracked throughout your apprenticeship.

The Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship typically lasts 18 months. During this time, learners complete a blend of online learning, workplace activities, professional discussions and one-to-one support while continuing to work within their early years role.

Learners are required to complete off-the-job training during paid working hours. Off-the-job training may include:

• Online learning activities
• Leadership projects
• Reflective practice
• Workplace observations
• Research and development activities
• Coaching and mentoring sessions
• Tutor-led workshops and Spotlight Sessions

Our flexible delivery model allows learners to apply their learning directly within their workplace while developing leadership skills in real-time.

You can learn more about apprenticeship delivery and off-the-job training within our Learner Hub.

For the learner, there is no cost.

For employers, the cost depends on whether you pay the apprenticeship levy:

• Levy-paying employers: You can use your apprenticeship levy funds to cover the full cost of the programme. These funds are accessed through your digital apprenticeship service account.
• Non-levy employers: The government will fund 95% of the training cost, meaning you only pay the remaining 5%. Based on the £6,000 funding band, this equates to just £300.

This makes apprenticeships a highly cost-effective way to develop your workforce, with the majority of training costs covered through government support.

Upon successful completion of the programme and End-Point Assessment (EPA), learners will achieve a Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship aligned to the apprenticeship standard.

This qualification demonstrates that learners have developed the advanced knowledge, leadership skills and professional behaviours needed to lead high-quality practice within early years settings.

The apprenticeship supports progression into senior childcare and leadership roles while helping practitioners develop expertise in mentoring, curriculum leadership, safeguarding and quality improvement.

To undertake this apprenticeship, learners must have been a UK, EEA, or EU resident for at least the past three years.

If you are aged 16 to 18 and do not have a Level 2 qualification or equivalent (GCSE grade 4/C), you will be required to work towards achieving these qualifications as part of your apprenticeship.

For those aged 19 and above, completing Maths and English (Functional Skills) is optional and not mandatory to complete your apprenticeship. However, this needs to be discussed and agreed upon with your Employer. (FS English needed to be part of ratio, FS Maths needed within 2 years of undertaking management role according to EYFS framework).

Functional Skills are nationally recognised qualifications in Maths and English that help learners develop practical skills used in the workplace and everyday life. These qualifications support areas such as communication, problem-solving, reading, writing and numeracy.

The Childcare Company understands that completing Functional Skills in Maths and English alongside your apprenticeship can feel daunting at first, as well as time consuming. That’s why we provide enhanced support to make the process as straightforward and efficient as possible.

We’ve partnered with Pass Functional Skills (PASS) to give you access to a new, improved online learning platform designed to help you achieve your qualifications more quickly and with greater confidence.

Through this platform, you’ll benefit from a clear and structured learning journey, including a diagnostic assessment to identify your starting point, personalised learning pathways, and high-quality interactive resources. You’ll also have access to bite-sized learning modules, practice questions, mock assessments, and progress tracking tools to help you stay on track.

Alongside this, you will continue to receive support from your tutor or development coach throughout your apprenticeship, ensuring you have guidance, feedback and encouragement at every stage of your Functional Skills journey.

Yes. Apprentices are employees and are entitled to paid holidays and workplace benefits in the same way as other members of staff. Holiday entitlement will normally be outlined within your employment contract and may vary depending on your employer and working hours. Most apprentices are entitled to at least 20 days of paid holiday per year plus bank holidays.

As an apprentice, you will earn a wage while gaining valuable experience and working towards a recognised early years qualification. Apprentices are also entitled to workplace rights including rest breaks and a safe working environment.

After completing the Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship, learners can progress into a range of senior childcare and leadership roles within early years settings, including:

• Early Years Lead Practitioner
• Room Leader
• Deputy Nursery Manager
• Nursery Manager
• Early Years Quality Lead
• SEND Lead
• Training and mentoring roles

This apprenticeship helps learners develop advanced leadership, mentoring and quality improvement skills while supporting Ofsted readiness and high-quality practice within early years education.

Many learners also progress onto degree-level study or higher-level qualifications in areas such as Early Childhood Studies, Education, Leadership and Management or Children and Young People’s Services. Degree apprenticeships and university programmes are widely available across England through higher education providers.

The Level 5 programme provides a strong foundation for progression into strategic, operational and specialist leadership roles within the early years sector.