Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner

If you are a practitioner within the early years workforce, this Level 4 qualification aims to provide you with professional development opportunities. 

It is a work-based qualification which embraces the wealth of experience that you have already gained within the Level 3 early years workforce, and it challenges you in both your daily practice and theoretical understanding.

You will need to complete five mandatory units to achieve this qualification. The mandatory units are:

Enabling children to learn
Promoting health and wellbeing through physical activity and nutrition co-ordination (PANCo) in the early years
Working with others to support children with additional needs, including Special Educational Needs and Disability
Working with families and other professionals in early years settings
Implementing change in an early years setting, incorporating a small-scale research project
This qualification will equip you with knowledge, understanding and skills across a range of key subject areas, for example:

Holistic learning of babies and children from birth to five years of age
Statutory planning and monitoring requirements in your own country
The benefits of physical activity, and the importance of diet, to the health and wellbeing of babies, children and their families
Effective inclusion of children in early years settings
The responsibilities of the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) within early years settings to promote children’s learning and development
Statutory requirements for working in partnership with families
How effective partnership working with other professionals can improve the care and development of babies and children in their own setting
Reflection on practice and use of current research to produce recommendations for improvements to your own setting
This qualification is a good choice for you if you are looking to progress to become an Advanced Practitioner within the early years workforce. The Advanced Practitioner will use crucial leadership skills to mentor others across all roles and responsibilities in the early years workforce.

The course is between 4-5 months long, with four hours per month tutorial which can be in class or through the One File system.

You will need to complete five mandatory units to achieve this qualification. They are:

Enabling children to learn
Promoting health and wellbeing through physical activity and nutrition co-ordination (PANCo) in the early years
Working with others to support children with additional needs, including Special Educational Needs and Disability
Working with families and other professionals in early years settings
Implementing change in an early years settings, incorporating a small-scale research project.
 

You learn on-site

You will need to have a student loan for £811 or alternatively you can be invoiced for the whole amount. This covers registration, certification and support from an assessor throughout the  programme. You will need a laptop to be able to access One File, enabling you to upload evidence and chart your progress within the course.

You will be assessed through:

Questioning – knowledge and professional discussions
Work products
Observations
Witness testimonies

Through this qualification, you will gain the required knowledge, understanding and skills to progress from a full Level 3 Early Years or Childcare qualification up to a Level 5 qualification, such as the Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services (England). The qualification will also prepare you for further study of early years subjects in higher education.

You could progress to the following job roles and responsibilities:

• Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo)
• Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator

You could also consider internal progression to a higher level, including roles with management responsibilities. There are leadership, mentoring, supervision and management opportunities within this sector. 

For more information contact Derby College on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk

For more information contact Derby College on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk