I want to be an inspiring leader…

by Amanda Ince and Liz Bullough, UCL Institute of Education

“I want to be an inspiring leader who can inspire my colleagues in my setting to be the best it can be….”

This quote from a participant on the fully funded NPQ Early Years Leadership programme designed by UCL Institute of Education with Early Education Associates, and early years experts. Based on the latest research and evidence, and on the DFE framework, the programme will create professionally confident early years professionals, and leaders. This is because it is important to grow and retain the best early years professionals who are excellent, collaborative role models for their nurseries and communities. Overall, the programme aims to inspire early years leaders who can harness the power of rich learning environments for all children no matter the current circumstances.

Full DfE funding is available to cover the course fees, with no cost to the participant. You are eligible for this course, and funding, if you are a leader, or aspiring leader, qualified to at least level 3 with a full and relevant qualification, employed:

  • in a nursery that is registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register
  • as a childminder with leadership responsibilities working with early years children and registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register or with a registered Childminder Agency
  • in a maintained nursery school in England
  • in a preschool class that’s part of a school in England.

Why choose this programme?

It is available nationally through local delivery partners who know and understand the local region and contexts. Early years professionals helped UCL Institute of Education design this course to fit around busy schedules.  It puts nurseries at the heart of the programme through a professional learning group approach that helps you to share your thinking and understanding within a well-planned framework. It is a mix of self-study and group coaching sessions, as well as face-to-face sessions with other early years professionals.

NPQEYL has been running for 6 months and already feedback from participants has been very positive. Current participants say they signed up because they wanted to:

continue to develop great EYFS practice and effectively lead others to do the same!

“build and develop a strong EYFS team who all consistently work well together to provide a stimulating learning environment for all children

raise the profile of EY, so that I can work with a team to improve outcomes for children and families

So, if you lead or aspire to lead in an early years setting, then this NPQ programme is for you.

Read more information about enrolling on this programme for a February 2023 start.

“Good leaders inspire others to create change through strong and respectful relationships”

UCL NPQ EYL participant

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