Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are designed to be delivered within a course of education. Some Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours may be more safely and reliably delivered in workplace settings, so may not be fully covered by the HTQ. Some qualifications will deliver additional content or added depth and breadth through, for example, use of specialist learning environments, work placements or innovative teaching methods. Check with the qualification provider if you require further information on coverage.
This occupation is found in a range of settings which can include day nurseries, playgroups, nursery schools, pre-schools, kindergartens, primary schools, hospitals, social care settings, out of school environments and local authority provision. The broad purpose of the occupation is to be a proactive and influential practitioner, working directly with children, skilfully leading day to day practice at an operational level. As active practitioners they are effective role models of play based learning, supporting others to develop their own practice. They are highly skilled professionals who take an operational lead for the care, learning and development of all young children within their care, adapting to individual needs providing inclusive and holistic provision. They engage with sector developments both locally and nationally, with a commitment to developing their own professional and educational competencies.. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with children aged birth to eight years, families, practitioners, other professionals and appropriate agencies. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for supporting the quality of learning and development in their setting. They lead on the operational aspects of this provision and are typically responsible for leading other practitioners, an aspect or environment such as; Communication and Language, Planning and Assessment, Forest School, Physical Activity and Nutrition. They usually report directly to the head of the setting (The Manager, The Leader, The Director).
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Promote the health and well-being of all children, self-regulation and resilience through learning rich environments, opportunities for challenging play and a healthy attitude towards risk taking. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 |
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Duty 2 Provide playful, sensitive interaction opportunities that reflect children's needs, interests and motivations in order to facilitate and extend deep level learning. |
K1 K2 K3 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K17 K18 K19 |
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Duty 3 Participate in and lead daily routines and practice, including childrens’ personal care, play and maintaining the physical environment. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K7 K9 K10 K11 K15 K17 K20 |
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Duty 4 To be an effective key person and advocate for the child, supporting the child’s developmental, emotional and daily needs within a secure and caring relationship. To ensure the effectiveness of the key person approach across the aspect or environment for which they are responsible. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K19 K20 K21 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S21 S22 S23 S25 |
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Duty 5 To take the lead and provide support in disseminating best practice in the use of observation, assessments and planning to meet children's needs and extend their holistic development within the aspect or environment for which they are responsible. |
K1 K2 K3 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K15 K18 K19 K21 |
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Duty 6 Promote, demonstrate and facilitate a clear understanding of diversity and equality to support all children, including those with additional needs, those of high ability, those with English as an additional language and those with disabilities. To be able to use and evaluate distinctive approaches which engage and support inclusivity of all children within their social and cultural context. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K11 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S8 S10 S11 S12 S13 S15 S16 S18 S19 S20 S21 S22 S23 S25 |
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Duty 7 Ensure full compliance with all safeguarding legislation, policies and strategies at a national, local and setting based level are promoted, implemented and embedded respectfully within practice, providing appropriate support to colleagues as, or supporting, the Designated Safeguarding Lead. |
K1 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 |
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Duty 8 Demonstrate leaderful practice through the effective deployment of resources and practitioners keeping the child’s voice and needs central to practice. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 |
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Duty 9 Reflect and build on practice through ongoing professional enquiry and action research to contribute to the pedagogical approach of their setting. To be accountable for day to day practice, longer term planning, management and training within the specific aspect or environment for which they are responsible. |
K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K15 K16 K17 K18 |
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Duty 10 Establish engaging, inclusive and collaborative relationships and participate in multiagency meetings. Enable and facilitate practitioners to develop professional relationships with parents, carers and multi-agencies to meet the individual needs of the children. |
K1 K2 K3 K5 K7 K8 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 |
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Duty 11 Commit to becoming a reflective practitioner, enhancing skills and knowledge to improve pedagogical practice. Guide and support the development of the reflective practice of others. |
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Duty 12 Initiate continuing professional development opportunities in response to identification of strengths and weaknesses both personally and within your team. Provide constructive feedback on points of practice on an informal day to day basis and contribute to formal performance management as necessary. |
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Duty 13 Ensure compliance with all Health and Safety legislation, policies and strategies at a national, local and setting based level. |
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Duty 14 Maintain effective administrative systems including development records, assessment, report writing and record keeping, such as risk assessments and safeguarding concerns. |
K1 K2 K3 K5 K8 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K19 K20 K21 |
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Duty 15 Work in collaborative partnership with parents and carers in the planning, implementation and review of strategies in place to support children's experience, holistic development, learning and progress. |
K2 K3 K4 K7 K8 K10 K13 K14 K15 K16 K21 |
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Duty 16 To lead and manage across the area, aspect or environment for which they are responsible for. |
K1 K2 K5 K7 K16 K17 K19 K20 K21 S2 S4 S10 S11 S13 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S22 S23 S24 S25 S26 |
K1: Ethical and rights-based approaches to support the child, listening to the child’s authentic voice within their social and cultural context enabling advocacy for the child and their individual journey, developing high quality childcare environments that are continuously evaluated.
Back to Duty
K2: How individual children learn and develop from conception to 8 years in relation to typical and atypical neurological, cognitive, social, emotional, behavioural, communication and physical development within the social, cultural context and the impact of this on their future.
Back to Duty
K3: Factors that have an impact upon health, well-being and early learning that can affect children from conception to 8 years.
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K4: Current and contemporary schools of thought to enable respectful and nurturing personal care.
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K5: Local and national child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures in practice, identifying when a child is at risk, and how to challenge in order to protect them. This includes understanding the role of the designated lead for safeguarding and assimilating findings of serious case reviews.
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K6: Theories of self-regulation, resilience and well-being and the impact of adverse early childhood experiences.
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K7: Current and emerging theories of attachment and how these relate to promoting relationships effectively such as the key person approach.
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K8: The importance of the social cultural context on the learning and development of the child and the influence parents, families and carers have within the home learning environment and the complexities of the family situation.
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K9: The importance of play and the theoretical perspectives of play and its impact on a child’s learning and development.
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K10: How to stimulate children’s creativity and curiosity and why and how this enables enquiry based active learning.
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K11: A wide range of underpinning theories from physiological, neurological, developmental and education and how these can be incorporated to develop own pedagogy.
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K12: Current and contemporary approaches in the development of emergent literacy and numeracy skills such as synthetic phonics.
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K13: How planning cycles inform and improve practice and the principles of individual needs-based assessment for effective early intervention for all children responsive to typical and atypical needs and development.
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K14: Potential effects of transitions and schools of thought on how to successfully support children and their families.
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K15: The importance of enabling environments and the impact of opportunities, resources and relationships on learning and development.
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K16: How to promote inclusion, equality and diversity in the sector and why it is essential.
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K17: Current and contemporary theoretical perspectives and approaches to leadership and how to support others through leaderful practice.
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K18: Principles of reflection in influencing early years practice with a commitment to life-long learning including continual professional development and action research.
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K19: How to maintain accurate and coherent records and reports for the purpose of sharing information and communicate effectively in both oral and written English.
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K20: The current and relevant policy, statutory guidance and legal requirements as appropriate to the sector within; local, national, historical and global contexts.
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K21: Strategies to effect collaborative approaches to working with parents, professional bodies and multi agencies.
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S1: Analyse and articulate how all children’s individual learning can be affected by their current developmental capabilities, characteristics and individual circumstances taking into account all factors contributing to typical and atypical development.
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S2: Promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.
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S3: Observe, assess, plan, facilitate and participate in play opportunities which include current curriculum requirements.
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S4: Ensure plans fully reflect the individual development needs and circumstances of children and actively participate in the provision of consistent care, responding quickly to the needs of the individual child.
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S5: Provide a dynamic, evolving and enabling environment that reflects the current interests, motivations, and play of individual and groups of children.
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S6: Encourage all children’s participation, ensuring a sensitive, respectful and effective balance within the adult and child dynamic to facilitate play opportunities.
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S7: Engage in effective strategies to develop and extend children's learning and thinking, including sustained shared thinking.
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S8: Support and promote children’s speech, language and communication development and determining and adapting appropriate responses and interventions.
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S9: Support children to engage in a range of learning contexts such as individual, small groups and larger groups as appropriate for their play and support confidence within social experiences.
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S10: Ensure staff are deployed effectively to suit and enhance the learning environment, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all children.
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S11: Advocate for the child, cultivating professional partnerships with parents/carers and other professionals, presenting their understanding of the child’s journey within multidisciplinary teams to holistically support the child’s individual needs.
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S12: Demonstrate the importance of the home learning environment, developing an effective and collaborative partnership to enhance opportunities for the child.
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S13: Make use of formative and summative assessment, tracking children’s progress to plan for future learning possibilities including early interventions based on individual developmental needs.
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S14: Take responsibility for supporting the key person in articulating children's progress and planning future learning possibilities.
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S15: Use current and contemporary knowledge, research, theories and approaches to develop, enhance and articulate their own pedagogical approach and practice.
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S16: Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally to enhance their practice.
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S17: Plan, carry out and guide appropriate physical care routines for individual children.
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S18: Promote, model and support children and families to develop a healthy approach to making choices relating to personal care including eating, sleeping and physical activity.
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S19: Develop, model and implement strategies to support the emotional, psychological, physical and cultural needs of all children within the setting.
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S20: Identify and act upon own responsibilities in relation to health and safety, prevention and control of infection, carrying out risk assessments and risk management processes in line with policies and procedures.
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S21: Ensure the security and confidentiality of data, records and information in line with current legislation.
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S22: Be a leaderful practitioner to support, mentor, coach, train and guide colleagues in a range of settings, providing inspiration and motivation to engage others to develop their practice.
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S23: Be confident to identify, action and competently challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.
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S24: Advocate for children through their child centred approach, listening to the voice of the child; ensuring children’s rights, views and wishes are heard, respected and acted upon at all times. Offer appropriate support and influence decisions in the best interests of the child.
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S25: Competently action and carry out safeguarding procedures, using their professional curiosity, knowledge, insight and understanding.
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S26: Explore and understand, challenge and question; knowing when to act to safeguard and protect children.
Back to Duty
B1: Ethical, fair, consistent and impartial, valuing equality and diversity at all times within professional boundaries.
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B2: Leaderful and motivating through consistent modelling of innovative and aspirational practice to other colleagues.
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B3: Person centred, friendly and approachable, demonstrating caring, empathetic and respectful qualities.
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B4: Authentic and fun, demonstrating playful practice through animated and expressive play and quality interactions with children.
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B5: Positive and proactive member of the team, being assertive and exercising diplomacy.
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B6: Reflective practitioner.
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B7: Creative and imaginative, demonstrating curiosity and inquisitiveness in order to be resourceful in all areas, including play and problem solving.
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B8: Flexible and adaptable; responding to children’s spontaneous activities.
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B9: Receptive and open to challenge and constructive criticism.
Back to Duty
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 5
Applicant: University of Gloucestershire
Awarding body: University of Gloucestershire
Approval date: 04/05/2023
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: Yes
ST0551 Early years lead practitioner
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 5
Applicant: University of Gloucestershire/Yeovil College University Centre
Awarding body: University of Gloucestershire
Approval date: 02/03/2023
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: No
ST0551 Early years lead practitioner
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 5
Applicant: Newcastle College Group
Awarding body: Newcastle College Group
Approval date: 02/03/2023
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: Yes
ST0551 Early years lead practitioner
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 5
Applicant: University of Central Lancashire
Awarding body: University of Central Lancashire
Approval date: 02/03/2023
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: Yes
ST0551 Early years lead practitioner
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 5
Applicant: University Centre Somerset, part of Bridgwater & Taunton College
Awarding body: The Open University
Approval date: 02/03/2023
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: Yes
ST0551 Early years lead practitioner
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 5
Applicant: Lancaster University
Awarding body: Lancaster University
Approval date: 02/03/2023
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: Yes
ST0551 Early years lead practitioner
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 5
Applicant: TEC Partnership
Awarding body: TEC Partnership
Approval date: 02/03/2023
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: Yes
ST0551 Early years lead practitioner
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 5
Applicant: University Centre Leeds
Awarding body: University Centre Leeds
Approval date: 02/03/2023
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: Yes
ST0551 Early years lead practitioner
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 5
Applicant: Warwickshire College and University Centre
Awarding body: Warwickshire College and University Centre
Approval date: 02/03/2023
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: Yes
ST0551 Early years lead practitioner
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 5
Applicant: NCFE
Awarding body: NCFE
Approval date: 04/05/2023
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: Yes
ST0551 Early years lead practitioner
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