About this course
The Early Years Lead Practitioner apprenticeship is for employee's whose role involves working directly with children, skilfully leading day to day practice.
Early Years Lead Practitioners are highly skilled professionals who take an operational lead for the care, learning and development of all young children aged birth to eight years, adapting to individual needs and providing inclusive and holistic provision. This tailored blended learning approach equips lead practitioners working in a range of settings from nurseries to out of school environments with latest best practice techniques that will promote the health and well-being of all children whilst ensuring compliance with legislation, policies and strategies at national, local and setting based level.
Functional Skills: If an apprentice is aged 16-18 and has not previously achieved the required level of English and maths, they will need to complete Functional Skills as part of their apprenticeship programme.
While Functional Skills are no longer mandatory for adult apprentices (19+), literacy and numeracy skills remain essential for success.
For those without prior English and Maths qualifications, we recommend level 1 in maths and level 2 in English to support career growth and workplace efficiency.
Our tailored support ensures these skills are seamlessly integrated into the apprenticeship journey, helping every apprentice develop these vital skills.

Course details
- Entry requirements: Employers will set their own entry requirements in order to start this apprenticeship.
- Duration: 24 months
- Course delivery: Blended – direct teaching and self-directed learning
Employers will determine their own entry requirements for an employee to commence this apprenticeship, but general entry requirements apply.
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As an apprentice, you’ll gain a highly regarded qualification, valuable work experience and get paid!
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