November 25 NPQ cohort applications now open!

Apply now for the November NPQ cohort funding is now confirmed.

 

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NPQEYL

New cohort starts November 2025, find out more about funding and how to apply below. Early Years Leadership is for leaders with responsibility across an Early Years organisation and will learn how to create an effective culture in your setting.

Find Out More About The November 2025 Cohort >>
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Who is it for?

NPQEYL is for leaders qualified to at least level 3 with a full and relevant qualification who are, or are aspiring to be:

  • managers of private, voluntary and independent nurseries
  • headteachers/senior leaders of school-based nurseries or maintained nurseries
  • childminders with leadership responsibilities (you work with, employ or are close to employing an assistant)

What will I learn?

You’ll develop expertise in the knowledge, skills and concepts for leading an Early Years setting. These include best practice around child development and additional and special educational needs, as well as culture, organisational management and partnerships you may make as the leader of an Early Years setting.

Content will include core elements of the framework:

• Culture
• Child development, curriculum and assessment
• Additional and special educational needs
• Professional development
• Organisational management
• Working in partnership
• Implementation

How will I benefit?

*  Develop as a leader with responsibility across an Early Years organisation and learn how to create an effective culture in your setting.
* Access content across a breadth of areas such as culture, child development, curriculum and assessment, and organisational management.
* Be supported to effectively implement change and improvement in an area you identify as a setting priority.

Read the full Early Years Leadership framework here.

Content

Duration: 18 months (plus 3 months for the summative assessment process)

PROGRAMME HANDBOOK AVAILABLE HERE: 2b NPQEYL Programme Guide DP Cohort v1 ALL STEP

Assessment

Formative assessment takes place throughout the programme, helping you understand the progress you are making, and facilitators to adapt your learning experiences.

Summative assessment takes the form of a 1500-word response to a case study, completed in a single 8-day window at the end of your programme. The assessment will give you the opportunity to demonstrate how you would deploy the knowledge, skills and understanding gained through the NPQ to lead and implement a specific aspect of change.

To apply 

The next cohort will start in November 2025.  The application window is now open so apply now.
Fully funded places on the NPQEYL are available to teachers and leaders who meet the Department for Education’s scholarship eligibility criteria. To qualify, you must be working in one of the following settings:
  • A state-funded school or 16–19 provider in England ranked in the top 50% nationally by proportion of pupils eligible for the Pupil Premium (or equivalent disadvantage funding);
  • A setting identified for support through the Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) programme;
  • A highly disadvantaged early years setting (only applies to NPQ Early Years Leadership).  The list for eligible schools is here.
If you meet these criteria, you may be entitled to a fully funded place with no cost to you or your school.
Please note: Funded places are limited and competitive, and eligibility does not guarantee a place. You are encouraged to register your interest early to maximise your chances.

Please note this programme will be a Teach First Programme.  Teach First are partnering with LLSE and ALL to bring you the NPQ Early Year Leadership from November 2025.

 

What Participants say
“I have found the course extremely beneficial to my practice. I have read some of the recommended books and papers around the subject in Culture…..The case studies have been very interesting and being able to discuss these with others has been valuable.”

Why you should do your NPQ with ALL?

If you are considering using us as your NPQ provider, see how we ensure the highest quality offering

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Where will we be delivering this NPQ?

Our delivery clusters and fully trained facilitators have an established reputation for providing a rich learning experience

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How do I apply?

New cohorts to launch in November 2025.  Apply now to be first in the line for scholarship funding and receive the latest updates on funding.

Apply Here >>

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