Busy Bees Training launches Level 5 Early Years apprenticeship

The training arm of the UK’s largest nursery group says it has launched the qualification to support career progression within the sector.

The two-year programme is delivered within settings through on and off-the job training, including online training sessions. Learners are supported by a Busy Bees development coach.

As per the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s rules for apprenticeship funding, learners will spend 20 per cent of their contracted working hours undertaking off-the-job training to underpin their practical understanding with theoretical knowledge.

The standard covers the following areas of childcare – leadership and management, child development and theory, pedagogy, health and wellbeing, health and safety, equality, diversity, inclusion and SEND, safeguarding and partnership working.

Following completion of the apprenticeship, practitioners will hold an Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5 standard.

Anthony Bromirski, chief operating officer at Busy Bees Education and Training, said, ‘Our Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5 apprenticeship programme is designed to develop and empower skilled early years practitioners and to give them the knowledge they need to move forward with their careers.

‘As the sector faces a skills gap crisis greater than we have ever witnessed before, we feel that the need for quality and progressive training has never been more needed.

‘As a cost-effective training route for employers and employees alike, that offers both practical knowledge as well as theoretical, we believe apprenticeships are a great asset to the sector. And now, by offering level 2 through to level 5 in childcare apprenticeships, we can offer a fully progressive career development of learning opportunities from school leavers all the way through to retirement.’

• Find out more about Level 5 childcare qualifications in Nursery World’s November issue, out next week.