At a glance
Includes expert delivery from Speech & Language Link
Awards:
Speech & Language Link Certification
Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5
Course duration
18 Months
Online learning
and training events
Monthly coaching sessions
Free for learners - funded via Apprenticeship Levy
Price for this programme: £12,000 £0
This course is fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy Fund
Who is the Early Years Speech & Language Support Practitioner Apprenticeship for?
This programme is designed for early years practitioners, room leaders and setting support staff who want to develop specialist expertise in speech, language and communication, and play a more impactful role in supporting children’s learning, development, participation and outcomes.
It is particularly suited to those working with children with speech, language and communication needs, or children who struggle to understand, express themselves, interact with others or engage in early learning and play. The programme helps participants become speech and language champions in their setting, with practical, evidence informed strategies they can apply immediately within their day to day practice.
Developed specifically for early years settings, this programme strengthens in-house expertise in one of the most important areas of early childhood development. By developing staff who can spot speech, language and communication needs early, adapt early years practice and work effectively with colleagues, families and external professionals, settings can improve access to the EYFS curriculum, support inclusion and drive better outcomes for children across the setting.
This apprenticeship is designed for:
- Early years practitioners who want to better support children with speech, language and communication needs and have a greater impact on learning, development and communication in the setting
- Room leaders and senior practitioners looking to deepen their expertise and develop more effective, evidence informed strategies to support children with additional needs
- Early years educators and nursery practitioners who want to build specialist knowledge and confidence in identifying and responding to communication barriers
- Early years lead practitioners who want to strengthen their practice and become speech and language champions within their setting
Delivered in partnership with Speech & Language Link
This programme is delivered in partnership with Speech & Language Link, combining specialist expertise in speech and language with Best Practice Network’s experience in designing and delivering high quality training and apprenticeships.
Speech & Language Link are recognised experts in supporting children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, bringing evidence informed approaches and practical strategies that are used in early years settings and schools every day. Their involvement ensures learners benefit from direct input from qualified speech and language therapists, grounded in real early years practice.
Best Practice Network brings a strong track record in delivering national professional development programmes, working closely with the Department for Education on initiatives including early years apprenticeships, NPQs and apprenticeships. This ensures the programme is structured, rigorous and aligned with the needs of early years settings, while supporting learners to successfully achieve a recognised Level 5 qualification.
Together, this partnership gives learners the best of both: specialist clinical expertise alongside proven training delivery, resulting in a programme that is both academically robust and highly practical for early years settings.
Why do early years need qualified Speech and Language Support Practitioners?
Speech, language and communication needs can have a significant impact on children’s early development, confidence, relationships and readiness for learning. That means early years settings need staff with the right knowledge and practical expertise to spot needs early, put effective support in place and help children communicate, interact and participate with confidence.
Without trained staff, speech, language and communication needs can be missed or misunderstood, creating barriers to early learning, play, social development, emotional wellbeing and participation in setting life.
The Department for Education has already recognised the importance of this area through national investment in early identification and intervention. At the same time, Ofsted expects early years providers to identify and address barriers to learning as part of inclusive practice. For settings, that creates a clear need for specialist expertise in this area.
Our Early Years Speech and Language Support Practitioner Apprenticeship helps early years settings build that expertise from within. It develops confident, qualified practitioners who can become speech and language champions in their setting, support children with speech, language and communication needs day to day, apply practical strategies in early years practice and strengthen inclusive support across the setting.
Rather than relying only on external input, settings can use the apprenticeship to grow in house capability, giving children earlier support, helping staff respond more effectively and building long term capacity where it is needed most.
What will you learn?
You will develop specialist knowledge of speech, language and communication and learn how to apply it with confidence within early years practice, helping children access learning, engage in play, participate more fully and make stronger developmental progress.
Alongside this, you will build the wider skills of an Early Years Lead Practitioner, so you can support individual needs, work effectively with others and contribute to inclusive practice across your setting. By the end of the programme, participants will be equipped to act as speech and language champions, supporting children directly and helping strengthen communication focused practice across the setting.
Understanding speech, language and communication
- What constitutes speech, language and communication needs
- How communication skills develop and why they are critical for early learning, play, relationships and development
- The prevalence and impact of speech, language and communication needs in the early years
- Common difficulties and diagnoses, and how they may present in babies and young children
- How communication breakdowns occur and affect understanding, behaviour, interaction and participation
Identifying need and responding effectively
- How to recognise signs of SLCN, including identifying “red flags”
- Understanding the link between communication, behaviour and engagement
- The role of the early years practitioner in observing, recording and raising concerns
- When and how to escalate concerns and work with others to support children
Practical strategies to support children
- How to support attention and listening skills
- Creating communication supportive early years environments
- Adapting your communication to support understanding, including:
-slowing down language and giving processing time
-breaking down instructions
-modelling language and communication - Using visuals, prompts, routines and structured approaches to support understanding and independence
- Supporting vocabulary development and helping children express themselves
Supporting learning, development and inclusion
- Child development and how speech, language and communication underpin early learning, play and social development
- Applying effective early years strategies to support children with individual needs
- Removing barriers to learning through inclusive practice
- Supporting social, emotional and developmental progress through communication
Planning, assessment and improving outcomes
- Contributing to planning and adapting support for individual children
- Using assessment and observation to understand children’s needs and progress
- Monitoring impact and supporting improvements in developmental outcomes
- Using a range of approaches to support children effectively over time
Working with others to support children
- Advocating for children and championing their needs
- Acting as a speech and language champion within the setting
- Working effectively with early years practitioners, room leaders, SENCOs, families and external professionals
- Understanding the importance of partnership working in supporting communication needs
- Contributing to inclusive practice across the setting
How is the Early Years Speech & Language Support Practitioner apprenticeship delivered?
The apprenticeship is designed to fit around learners’ existing roles, allowing them to develop specialist skills and knowledge while applying their learning directly in their day to day work.
- Facilitated online sessions
Regular virtual classroom sessions support learners to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for the role, with opportunities to reflect on learning and its impact in practice. - Monthly coaching with an experienced practitioner
Learners receive ongoing support from an experienced practitioner, helping them apply their learning in the workplace, review progress and develop confidence in their specialist role. - Online learning and portfolio development
Learners access structured online resources and complete activities throughout the programme, building a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates their impact in supporting pupils.
Assessment
Gateway
Gateway is the final stage of the apprenticeship before assessment, where the employer and training provider confirm that the learner has developed the required knowledge, skills and behaviours and is ready to move forward to End Point Assessment.
End Point Assessment (EPA)
EPA is the final assessment of the apprenticeship and includes:
- Observation with questions, where the learner is assessed in their real working environment
- Professional discussion, supported by a portfolio of evidence built throughout the programme
The outcome of the EPA determines the final grade of pass, merit or distinction.
Related Courses and Content