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Free Level 4 Early Years Professional Leadership Course Online

CostFREE
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 4
DeliveryOnline
StartFlexible
Awarding bodyPearson Edexcel awarding body
Apply now →

About this course

Free Level 4 Early Years Professional Leadership for England Course. Study online. You can work through the course at your own pace, which makes it practical if you're balancing work, family, or other commitments. The course covers early years theory, leadership, communication, and team management, with a mandatory work placement where your practice is assessed with children across different age groups. You'll need a relevant Level 3 qualification to enrol, and there's an interview before you start. The course typically takes one year.

Who this course is for

Adults (19+)

Entry requirements

You will need:

A relevant Level 3 qualification, such asan Extended Diploma or three A Levels, including relevant individual subjects

You will also have an interview before enrolment, so we can ensure the course is right for you.

What you will learn

  • You'll develop leadership and management skills for early years settings.
  • You'll study child development theory and how it applies to practice.
  • You'll build communication and organisational skills for leading a team.
  • You'll complete assessed work placement with children across different age groups.
  • You'll reflect on your own professional development through reflective practice.
  • You'll learn how to support children's learning and wellbeing at a senior level.

How you will learn

Assessment is through coursework, practical assignments, and projects completed during your studies. You'll be graded on a Pass, Merit, or Distinction scale. Each unit you complete earns points, and your overall qualification grade is based on your performance across all units. The mandatory work placement includes assessed practice, so you'll need to arrange access to an early years setting alongside your online study.

What you will need to bring

West London College will confirm anything you need before you start. You'll also need to arrange a suitable work placement as part of the course requirements.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Nursery manager: lead a team in a nursery or early years setting.
  • Room leader: manage a room and support practitioners day to day.
  • Early years practitioner (senior): work with children at a senior level.
  • Childcare deputy manager: support the manager in running a setting.
  • Pre-school leader: oversee planning and delivery in a pre-school.
  • Early years coordinator: coordinate provision across a school or setting.

What you could study next

  • Level 5 HND in Early Years Leadership: the natural next step after this HNC, deepening your leadership and management knowledge.
  • Early Childhood Studies degree: some universities accept an HNC for entry into year two, moving toward a full honours degree.
  • Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS): a postgraduate route for those wanting to specialise in teaching children from birth to five.
Apply on wlc.ac.uk →
Apply now →

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