Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL)


National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL)

We are delighted to be partnering with Teach First to deliver this programme.

  • Target Audience: leaders qualified to at least level 3 who are, or are aspiring to be, a nursery manager, headteacher of a school-based or maintained nursery, or registered childminders with leadership responsibilities. Settings must be Ofsted registered. 
  • Course Length: 18 months, plus 3 months for assessment period
  • Next Programme Start Date: Spring 2025
  • Brochure: Teach First

Programme cost

The cost of the NPQ in Early Years Leadership is £1,090.

Funding for Target Scholarships

The DfE has agreed funding for schools serving the most disadvantaged pupils within our region. This means that all NPQs are fully funded for those settings.

These settings are:

  • In the top 50% of schools with the highest proportion of pupils who attract pupil premium funding;
  • A 16 to 19 setting identified as having high disadvantage; or
  • A highly disadvantaged early years setting

Eligibility: Saffron Teaching School Hub has alerted all eligible schools within our Hub area. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact us.

Further details about NPQ funding can be found here: 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/funding-for-national-professional-qualifications-npqs


What will I learn?

You will broaden your leadership knowledge and gain the specialist expertise needed to tackle your organisation’s improvement priorities with content covering the breadth of knowledge you need as a leader. Teach First's content is informed by the best and most recent evidence and developed with input from serving leaders and subject-matter experts.

Modules are still being confirmed but will include core elements of the framework:

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

Programme Breakdown

Your Learning Journey

Designed with busy teachers in mind, the NPQEYL is delivered using a blend of online seminars, flexible online learning and conferences.

How will I benefit?

Over 18 months, you will:

  • Get the tools to establish and - more importantly - sustain your organisation’s strategic direction. Learn how to create an effective culture and align your staff in your setting’s mission.
  • Create a thriving environment in which all staff feel supported and valued with opportunities to develop.
  • Become part of a community of leaders across Early Years settings and contexts and learn how they faced and overcame similar challenges.                                                                           

Please see the attachment below for further information about the NPQ in Early Years Leadership.