This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Early Years Advisory Teacher, Karen Loft, for the attention of all Early Years and Childcare Practitioners.
The National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) is a new, DfE-funded, professional development course offered from autumn 2022 to leaders and aspiring leaders of early years settings. It is designed to support early years leaders to develop expertise in leading high-quality education and care, as well as in effective staff and organisational management.
The NPQEYL has been designed with leaders and practitioners in mind, using the latest and best available evidence and collective wisdom of the profession to ensure every child in every setting gets the best start in life.
The NPQEYL is aimed at leaders qualified to (at least) Level 3 with a full and relevant qualification, who are, or are aspiring to be:
- managers of Private, Voluntary and Independent nurseries,
- headteachers or leaders of school-based and maintained nurseries, or
- childminders with leadership responsibilities, or
- other early years foundation stage leaders, such as reception class teachers or early years coordinators.
Early years professionals helped us design this course to fit around busy schedules. On average participants will need to spend between 1 and 2 hours per week working towards this NPQ.
Further information about the NPQEYL is available on GOV.UK
Skilled Early Years leaders share their experience of the NPQ in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) in DfE’s blog
After just a few months on the NPQEYL, Vicki, Rachel and Jude are enjoying getting back into studying and are already implementing what they’re learning. Take a look to see if the NPQEYL might be the right course for you.
The NPQEYL is free, flexible and designed by sector experts to help professional leaders like you across the EY sector develop their career. It is a comprehensive programme to strengthen your leadership. It also trains you to support children impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as helping you to lead effectively through:
- creating and implementing a vision and policies
- improving staff recruitment, development, management and appraisal
- marketing your setting
- working in partnership with parents and carers.
Registrations are now open to start this October. Read the blog to find out how the NPQEYL might benefit you and apply today on GOV.UK.
Jude’s bug hotel: one of the projects implemented using an inclusive approach she learned on the NPQEYL
