Level 2 and 3 Qualifications and Playwork / Transition to Playwork
Early Years Educator (EYE)
Staff who completed or registered for a qualification before 1 September 2014 must hold a qualification that meets full and relevant criteria for early years qualifications.
From 1 September 2014 all Level 3 qualifications must meet the 'Early Years Educator' criteria and therefore can be counted as Level 3 in the ratios when delivering the EYFS. Early Years Educator qualifications are available as stand-alone diploma and apprenticeship.
In order to count as a Level 3 in EYFS ratio anyone who already holds an EYE qualification, began studying an EYE since September 2014, or takes up an EYE in the future must in addition to their EYE certificate hold GCSEs in English and Maths graded A-C or Functional Skills (Literacy and Numeracy at Level 2).
Early Years Practitioner (EYP)
From 1 September 2019 all Level 2 qualifications must meet the ‘Early Years Practitioner’ criteria and therefore can be counted as Level 2 in the ratios when delivering the EYFS. Early Years Practitioner qualifications are available as stand alone diploma and apprenticeship.
Anyone who completed a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification on or after 30 June 2016 can only count in the EYFS Level 2 or Level 3 ratios if they also hold either a full or emergency Paediatric First Aid Certificate (PFA). There is a vast amount of information regarding the Paediatric First Aid requirement at point 3.25 and Annex A of the revised EYFS. Full and Valid Paediatric First Aid courses are available from Leicestershire County Council.
Qualifications criteria
The Department for Education has set the Early Years Practitioner (Level 2) Qualifications Criteria, this is the criteria for the minimum qualification content of Level 2 qualifications to enable a practitioner to count as Level 2 in the ratios.
The Department for Education has set the Early Years Educator (Level 3) Criteria, this is the criteria for the minimum qualification content of Level 3 qualifications to enable a practitioner to count as Level 3 in the ratios.
Level 3 and above qualifications commenced prior to 31 August 2014 that were deemed full and relevant by the National College for Teaching and Leadership/Department for Education will remain ‘full and relevant’ and staff will continue to count in the ratios as a Level 3 practitioner without the GCSE/PFA requirements.
For information about all qualifications including checking if held qualifications are full and valid for delivering the EYFS please check the Early Years Qualifications List.
Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications can be delivered as a stand-alone qualification such as a certificate or diploma or as part on an apprenticeship. Qualifications undertaken as part of an apprenticeship are heavily subsidised by the government, whereas qualifications undertaken without the apprenticeship element will be at a substantial cost to the learner who would typically take out an Advanced Learner Loan.
Apprenticeship training
Any ‘employed’ practitioner of any age can achieve a full and relevant Level 2 or Level 3 Qualification via the apprenticeship route supported by government funding.
If your employer or your business has an annual wage bill of £3million or more you will be paying into the Apprenticeship Levy, which will support you or your staff to undertake qualifications via the apprenticeship route.
If, like most early years businesses, your setting is not eligible to pay into the Apprenticeship Levy the setting will contribute 5% of the cost of the apprenticeship training, and the government will fund the rest. The setting or business will pay the 5% contribution in monthly instalments during the duration of the apprenticeship e.g. for a Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship this works out at less than £17 per month.
The new Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard will typically take 12 months to complete and includes:
- The Level 2 apprenticeship standard ‘Early Years Practitioner’
- A full and relevant Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification
- English and Maths at Level 1 if they don’t already hold them and attempt Level 2
The new Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Standard will typically take 18 months to complete and includes:
- The Level 3 apprenticeship standard ‘Early Years Educator’
- A full and relevant Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification
- A full and relevant Paediatric First Aid Award
- English and Maths at Level 2 if they don’t already hold them
If the apprentice is already employed their current contract of employment and salary or rate of pay will continue and will not change.
Depending on the age of the apprentice/practitioner the cost of the apprenticeship training to the employer can range from £0.00 up to around £17 per month for the length of the apprenticeship.
Some training providers deliver the training in your setting and some deliver the training in a group classroom environment at a specific venue. Some will deliver a mixture of both. Most training providers deliver a 'rolling programme' which means that you can start at any time during the year.
Find early years apprenticeship training
You should also check with your local college or training provider to see if and when they are delivering the new Early Years Educator Apprenticeship, because the apprenticeship website is not always up to date.
Certificates and Diplomas
Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications can be delivered as a stand-alone qualification (without apprenticeship) such as a certificate or diploma, typically at a cost to the learner. The expected cost of a Level 3 Early Years Educator Qualification is between £2,000 and £6,000. The learner would normally take out an Advanced Learner Loan.
Some training providers are not able to deliver qualifications using the government funding and will therefore encourage learners to access the Advanced Learner Loan – please remember this is an option not a necessity; anyone can access the qualifications via the apprenticeship route with a training provider who can deliver the government funding.
Playwork and Transition to Playwork
A qualification in Playwork will enable you to have a greater awareness of the play needs of the older children in your care. Playwork is a highly skilled profession that enriches and enhances children's play. It takes place where adults support children's play but it is not driven by prescribed education or care outcomes.
If you already hold a full and relevant level 3 you could 'top this up' with Transition to Playwork. Currently playwork qualifications do not meet the criteria for Early Years Educator. However, providers only delivering Out of School care are not obligated to meet the same EYFS requirements with regard to qualifications; a Playwork qualification could therefore be a more suitable alternative to Early Years Educator. See the NEC Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork.
If you choose to go with a training provider who does not appear on this list, please email EYTraining@leics.gov.uk to double check this trainer and qualification. Sadly, there are many training companies who claim to offer Level 3 qualifications which are in fact NOT full and relevant in terms of delivering the EYFS and they WILL NOT count as a Level 3 in terms of ratios.
2021 local training providers Opens new window
Please also take a look at the Key questions checklist PDF to support you in selecting a training provider. If you require any support or assistance, please contact EYTraining@leics.gov.uk.