What is the Level 4?
Showcase Training are excited to annouce the delivery of the Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner qualification!
This qualification is aimed at current Level 3 Early Years Practitioners to provide them with the knowledge and skills needed to work as an Advanced Practitioner in Early Years. This qualification equips learners with leadership skills and management responsibilities in order to coach and mentor others in an Early Years setting. The Level 4 provides continuous professional development and bridges the gap between the Level 3 and Level 5 in the Early Years Workforce.
The length of the course is approximately six months and learners do not have to complete any Off the Job Training or an End Point Assessment. The cost of the course is £720+ VAT with monthly payment plans and advanced learner loans available.
The curriculum will be delivered fairly and consistently to all learners whilst also being flexible to adapt to specific learner and employer needs and requirements. It also embeds the Showcase values of being inspirational, engaging, dynamic, and quality-led, as we feel these are values that are most helpful to them both within their current roles and for future life.
Entry Requirements
To complete a Level 4 qualification learners must:
- Be 18 years old or over
- Hold a full Level 3 Early Years/Childcare qualification
- Employed in an Early Years setting
- Be supported by their employer to complete this qualification
Career Aspirations
Following achievement, learners could progress to a Level 5 qualification either as part of work-based learning or higher education at university.
Achievers could also progress to the following job roles and responsibilities within an Early Years setting:
- Leadership, mentoring, supervision, and management opportunities
- Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator (PANCo)
- Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)
- Internal progression at a higher level, including those with management responsibilities
Visits and Assessment
Throughout the programme, the learner will undertake many different types of assessment including voice discussions, observations of practice, reflective accounts, written assignments as well as witness testimonies completed by the employer. Employers will be asked to be involved in providing learners with the learning opportunities required for their programme.
One-to-one visits with a tutor will take place every six weeks and be prearranged with the learner and employer. These visits will either take place remotely or in the workplace. Ahead of each visit, pre-visit work will be set which will include any relevant modules and reading. Additionally, the tutor will also conduct observations of practice where appropriate.
Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge
- Understand the role of the Advanced Practitioner in enabling children to learn in early years settings
- Understand the statutory framework for early years practice in own country
- Understand the pedagogical approaches on early years practice
- Understand monitoring and assessment in the early years
- Understand current statutory framework requirements for early years settings in relation to physical development, food, and nutrition
- Evaluate own setting’s provision for physical activity and nutrition in relation to the requirements of statutory frameworks and national guidelines
- Understand international and UK research for promoting physical activity and healthy eating in early years
- Understand the PANCo programme and the role and responsibilities of a PANCo
- Identify collaborative strategies to develop and implement change in relation to physical activities and healthy eating
- Understand current frameworks for inclusive practice
- Understand provision related to children’s additional needs
- Understand the role and responsibilities of the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) in early years settings
- Understand factors which affect families who are caring for children with Special Educational Needs and Disability
- Understand how own setting’s policies and procedures support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- Understand requirements for partnership working in early years settings
- Understand the diverse needs of families and how these are addressed in early years settings
- Understand how to lead, coach, mentor and educate staff in own setting in relation to partnership working
- Understand the use and purpose of research
- Understand how to present findings to others
Skills
- Plan enabling environments across all ages and how pedagogical approaches influence these
- Be able to value the voice of the child in introducing and implementing change
- Work with children in a child-centred way to help them understand their own physical health and nutrition needs
- Plan a research project