Early Years Advanced Practitioner Level 4

What you will learn

1. Unit 1 - Enabling children to learn

   Throughout the opening unit, you’ll explore the role of the Advanced Practitioner. You’ll investigate the importance of working in harmony with colleagues, how to be a mentor, and how to delegate effectively. You’ll examine the importance of working in close partnership with parents and carers, as well as the more technical aspects of your role such as record keeping and policy.
   You’ll gain a detailed understanding of the statutory framework for early years, and develop your own role, along with that of your team, in providing purposeful learning experiences for babies and children. You’ll cover safeguarding and welfare and understand pedagogical approaches to early years practise. Additionally, study ways to plan an enabling learning environment, understand the monitoring and assessment process, and practise reflecting on your own role and the roles of others with a view to implementing improvements.

2. Unit 2 - Promoting health and well-being through physical activity and nutrition co-ordination (PANCo) in the early years

   In the second unit, you’ll gain an appreciation of the benefits of physical activity and a healthy diet to the wellbeing of babies, children, and their families. With this in mind, you’ll consider statutory requirements, local and national initiatives, and wider perspectives that are instrumental in promoting positive approaches in these areas. As you study and continue with your work-based experience, you’ll be required to reflect on your own performance to implement positive changes. You’ll work with staff, parents, and carers to make positive changes for the health of the babies and children in your care in the role of a Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator (PANCo).

3. Unit 3 - Working with others to support children with additional needs, including special educational needs and disability

   This unit will focus on effective inclusion for children in early years settings. It will allow you to demonstrate the leadership and management skills of the role of Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), whilst promoting best practise for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families.

4. Unit 4 - Working with families and other professionals in early years settings

   During this unit, you’ll examine statutory requirements for working in partnership with families. You’ll also discover how working in effective partnership with other professionals can improve the care and development of the babies and children in your care. You’ll explore some of the complex and diverse needs of families, and how to overcome some of the barriers you might face when working with them. Additionally, you’ll learn how to apply coaching, leadership, and mentoring skills to educate and motivate staff to work effectively in partnership with others.

5. Unit 5 - Implementing change in an early year’s setting incorporating a small-scale research project

   Throughout the final unit, you’ll be required to plan, implement, and evaluate change in relation to an identified theme. You’ll achieve this through a small-scale research project. The theme selected will allow you to reflect on practice, use current research to produce recommendations for improvement to your own setting, implement these recommendations, and summarise your findings.