Free Level 5 The Early Years Senior Practitioner Course in Dunstable. Classes run at Kingsland Community College on a part-time daytime basis, making it manageable alongside other commitments. The course prepares you to lead and manage practice in early years settings, working with colleagues, other professionals, and parents and carers to improve outcomes for babies and children. You'll develop skills in leadership, legislative compliance, and quality provision. The course runs to 636 hours of study.
Who this course is for
The Early Years Senior Practitioner will be a positive role model for the team. Through clear leadership and effective management, you will support and promote best practice within legislative requirements to enable quality provision. Working collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals and parents/carers you will engage and motivate all involved for improved outcomes for babies and children.
What you will learn
You'll develop leadership skills to support and guide your early years team.
You'll learn how to promote best practice within legislative and regulatory requirements.
You'll build knowledge of child development to improve outcomes for babies and children.
You'll understand how to work collaboratively with parents, carers, and other professionals.
You'll learn how to manage and evaluate the quality of early years provision.
You'll develop skills in safeguarding and child protection at a senior level.
You'll learn how to motivate and engage colleagues to raise standards across the setting.
How you will learn
Learning takes place in the classroom at Kingsland Community College. You'll be assessed through a combination of written assignments, observations of your practice in an early years setting, and professional discussions. You'll build a portfolio of evidence demonstrating your competence across the qualification. An initial assessment will confirm that Level 5 is the right level for you and help plan your learning.
What you will need to bring
The centre will provide most materials. Kingsland Community College will confirm anything else you need before you start.
Where next
Jobs you could do
Nursery manager: lead the day-to-day running of a nursery setting.
Room leader: manage a room and mentor junior practitioners.
Early years SENCO: coordinate support for children with additional needs.
Deputy manager: support the nursery manager and cover their responsibilities.
Early years consultant: advise settings on quality and compliance.
Children's centre coordinator: manage programmes for families and young children.
What you could study next
Foundation Degree in Early Years: a higher education route for those wanting to deepen their knowledge further.
BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies: a full degree for those moving toward management, research, or advisory roles in the sector.
Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS): for those who want to qualify as an early years teacher and lead learning in a setting.
