Early Years Advanced Practitioner Certificate Level 4

The NCFE CACHE Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner aims to provide professional development opportunities for practitioners working in the early years workforce at Level 3.

This qualification will embrace the wealth of experience of the Level 3 early years workforce, and challenge learners in both their daily practice and theoretical understanding.

Learners must be at least 19 years old and hold a full Level 3 early years / childcare qualification.

This course runs over a college academic year, starting in September 2026.

The qualification covers a range of early years topics at Level 4, including enabling children to learn, working with families and other professionals and implementing change, as well as specialist areas such as physical activity and nutrition and special educational needs.

Learners will acquire and use skills of leadership, mentoring, coaching and reflection as they complete the qualification through work-based learning opportunities.

Students will attend a session online every week for the duration of their course.

The session will either be a teaching session with knowledge and understanding of specific issues in the early years or an assignment catch up and tutor support.

Students will attend online sessions where they will gain understanding of topics associated with the units that they will cover.

Students will be set projects, research projects, essays, reflective work and task work to complete, reflective to their role in the early years field. These will be marked by tutors and students given feedback and updates ongoingly.

Learners must be 19 years old and hold a full Level 3 early years / childcare qualification to be able to complete this qualification.

You will need to be working in the early years sector to fully be able to support this qualification and use reflection within your role.

Funding may be available to support your learning as an adult (aged 19+) studying at Dudley College in the following circumstances:

• If the course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and they have given us permission to offer it at no cost to you and live in the WMCA area.
• If the course is part of the ‘Free Courses for Jobs’ government scheme and you are unemployed or working for a low wage.
• If the course is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) / WMCA and you meet certain criteria (such as this being the first qualification of this type and level you are studying, or unemployed, or working for a low wage).

Your personal circumstances and the funding available to you will be discussed at enrolment, if would useful if you bring evidence including proof of income / benefits; proof of age (i.e. driving licence); prior qualifications.

English & Maths: If you have not previously achieved GCSE grade C or above in English and/or maths, you can study these for free.