Apply now for the November NPQ cohort funding is now confirmed.
New cohort starts November 2025, find out more about funding and how to apply below. Enhance the quality of early years education and provide the best possible start for children.
As outlined in the Government white paper there is a real drive to improve the quality of education that children receive in early years settings, childminders and reception classes.
To do this the government are investing in training and qualifications to raise the skill levels of the workforce, and increasing understanding of high-quality practice, providing more access to proven, evidence-based early years programme.
NPQEYL is for leaders qualified to at least level 3 with a full and relevant qualification who are, or are aspiring to be:
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
* 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.
Duration: 18 months (plus 3 months for the summative assessment process)
PROGRAMME HANDBOOK AVAILABLE HERE: NPQEYL Handbook September 2025
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.
Apply Now
The next cohort will start in November 2025. The application window is now open so apply now.
Fully funded places 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:
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.”
If you are considering using us as your NPQ provider, see how we ensure the highest quality offering
Our delivery clusters and fully trained facilitators have an established reputation for providing a rich learning experience
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.
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