Early Years Senior Practitioner - Level 5 Diploma

This qualification is designed to support the development of leadership and management skills in early years settings, as well as the knowledge and skills relating to early years practice.

This qualification is delivered over 2 years, with lessons timetabled only during term-time.

For information on our Higher Education policies, including admissions, fees, and student contracts, please see the links below:

• Complaints Policy
• Fees Policy
• HE Admissions Policy
• HE Student Contract
• HE Student Protection Plan

For our full list of policies, governance and fees, please see our website’s policy page.

There are 18 mandatory units in this qualification.

Successful learners must achieve 121 credits from the 18 mandatory units.

Example units include:

• Manage care routines for children
• Lead practice in promoting well-being and resilience in children
• Model positive behaviour in early years
• Lead activities, experiences and educational opportunities to promote children's speech, language and communication
• Lead children's early years education and development
• Understand holistic child development from birth to seven years.
• Champion Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Work in partnership in early years settings
• Lead and manage a team within the early years setting

Applicants should have achieved a Level 3 early years qualification prior to this enrolment.

To be able to show competence in both knowledge and skills, you will need to be working in the role of leader, deputy or manager in an appropriate setting, or have the opportunity to carry out responsibilities associated with these roles, to be able to study for the Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.

The total number of mandatory placement hours is a minimum of 300 hours, to be completed between October and June.

All units are internally assessed and externally quality assured.

These units must be assessed using an externally set and internally marked assessment task:

• Lead practice in promoting well-being and resilience in children
• Quality provision in early years settings

Adults - Level 5

This course may be at a reduced-cost for you if you meet certain conditions:

• If you are not working or have a low income. You need to show proof of your income or benefits.
• Residency rules apply You need to show you have permission to live, work and study in the UK without conditions if you live in London, or 3 years before the start of the course if you live outside London.
• There are some exceptions, such as certain visa types.

Check here which documents you need to show us, and which visa types are allowed.

If you do not meet the residency rules, you can still enrol on the course but you may have to pay some fees. All applicants are fee-assessed during enrolment.

If you are not eligible for a reduced-cost course, you need to pay the full fee yourself, or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Some courses have an additional market premium that you need to pay, even if your course is funded or you take out an Advanced Learner Loan.

Some courses have additional costs, such as for specialist materials and trips.

Many of our students are eligible for financial support, see here for details.

All applicants will be fee asssed during enrolment.

The total course cost is £4,670.

Related qualifications you can progress to are:

• Higher Education
• Childhood studies
• Youth work
• Youth and communities

Career opportunities are: 

• Senior Early Years Practitioner
• Lead Practitioner