Bolton College successfully delivers NCFE’s early years advanced practitioner qualification

28 October 2021

Jennifer Walker is the Curriculum Leader for Early Years, Education and Social Sciences at Bolton College. The college delivers a range of our CACHE qualifications, from Level 1 to Level 4 in Early Years and Education. In 2020-21 they delivered NCFE CACHE Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner qualification for the first time, and we caught up with Jennifer to find out how her team found the experience, in her own words:  

“We were really excited to begin delivering this qualification. Our tutors worked extremely hard during the previous academic year despite the challenges of the pandemic, studying the content of the Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner in preparation for its delivery.

“The qualification has enabled learners to explore the world of leadership in their early years settings. This is the first time we have delivered this course and what a success it’s been!

“We’ve had great feedback from our EQA, as well as the learners who have thoroughly enjoyed the course. Learners were supported in leading and managing change, obtaining the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to support their workforce and implement new strategies to further improve the care of children.”

“We were over the moon at how well the delivery of the Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner has gone in 2020-21! We’re enjoying teaching it again this year, along with the Level 4 Certificate for the Advanced Practitioner in Schools and Colleges.”

Childminders Leanne Smith and Lauren Bottomly both studied the Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) at Bolton College, later progressing onto the Level 4 Certificate Early Years Advanced Practitioner course. Both learners showed outstanding dedication and commitment, engaging in their learning, asking questions, and supporting each other and their peers. We heard from Lauren on her experience:

 “The Level 4 Certificate Early Years Advanced Practitioner course helped me to further my learning of Early Years Education, including how to successfully implement change and support others. I’m incredibly thankful for my course tutor Nicola Sherlock who was extremely supportive, approachable and knowledgeable.

“Both myself and Leanne have implemented several changes to our childminding business in response to our learning on the course, and we are now working together as childminders.”

To find out more about our CACHE qualifications portfolio, visit qualhub.org.uk. You can also have a look at our early years and childcare sector specialism page here.