The 18-month Level 5 apprenticeship will offer the chance for employees working in roles such as a SENCO, room leader, senior practitioner and nursery nurse to continue their career development.
Upon completion, it provides practitioners with a licence to practice at Level 3.
Last year, Nursery World reported that a 'tug of war' was taking place over whether the Level 5 apprenticeship standard should contain a foundation degree or the standard ‘licence to practice’ at Level 3.
The apprenticeship will receive 95 per cent Government funding for small and medium sized enterprises and will aim to develop highly skilled professionals who take on an operational lead for the care, learning and development of all young children within the setting.
Amongst the topics to be covered during the apprenticeship are leadership and management, curriculum, health and well-being, health and safety, safeguarding and child development and theory.
'Huge boost for the early years sector'
Karen Derbyshire, head of childcare and education at early years training provider Realise, said, ‘This is a huge boost for the sector, both in terms of settings such as nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, and the employees themselves.
‘Previously, once a practitioner had completed a Level 3 apprenticeship, there wasn’t an obvious route for people wanting to take their career to the next level while continuing in their role.
‘That has all changed with the introduction of a Level 5 apprenticeship and it opens doors for a practitioner to develop themselves further including into a new role such as a deputy manager or manager of a setting - and even beyond.
‘That development opportunity should also be crucial to helping early years settings to retain talented staff within the industry as there is further opportunity to progress their careers.’
She added, ‘We have been working on developing our curriculum for this Level 5 apprenticeship for almost a year in preparation for its approval so we will be ready to begin working with our first learners in September.
‘We are confident we will be in a position to enrol up to 250 learners between September and the end of the year and we have already received many expressions of interest in the past few months in preparation for the approval of the Level 5 apprenticeship.’
Nurseries have also welcomed the new qualification.
Jonathan Broadbery, director of policy and communications at National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said, ‘For years we have been highlighting the pressures on the early years workforce and the challenges both employers and practitioners face in upskilling the workforce.
However, Mr Broadbery warned that career progression and further funding were also vital to create a truly valued workforce.
‘While we’re aware of questions over whether it can be used to progress onto qualifications beyond Level 5, it will provide an in-work route to demonstrating knowledge and skills at this level,’ he said.
‘However, supporting qualification routes is just one piece of the puzzle. We must see a full review of funding policy which recognises the true value of early years practitioners and funds the sector accordingly.’