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New apprenticeship standard approved at Level 5

A new level 5 apprenticeship standard has been approved for the early years sector – but only meets Level 3 requirements.

The new Early Years Lead Practitioner standard, which was published last night, is designed to enable practitioners to work ‘directly with children, skilfully leading day to day practice at an operational level.’

It is hoped the new standard, which meets Early Years Educator criteria, will be ready for delivery in spring next year.

The move follows over two years of deadlock between the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and the employer 'trailblazer' group which has developed it, which has been arguing for a Level 5 qualification to be included.

Trailblazer chair Laura Upton told Nursery World, ‘We wanted the apprenticeship to carry the 240 credits at level 5 so that it would enable practitioners to step up to top-up degrees. The [IfATE] are not going to budge on it and two and a half years is long enough to wait.’

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