Between April 2019 and August 2021, three Early Years standards, L2, L3 and L5, were approved by the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE). At the moment there are no plans for a Level 6/Degree, it having been withdrawn in August 2019. These standards replaced the previous framework apprenticeships and introduced an independent assessment in the form of an End Point Assessment, commonly known as an EPA; and the need to be delivered by an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO).
In our mini-series on Early Years Standards, we talked about the type of roles and durations of apprenticeships for each standard. To finish off the series SSES will explain the Gateway and End-Point Assessment requirements that take place at the end of an Apprentice’s training.
An Apprentice will have completed a portfolio covering the knowledge, skills and behaviours they have gained during their apprenticeship. When their employer feels that the Apprentice is consistently working at, or beyond, the level of the standard, the Apprentice will go through what is known as ‘Gateway’. This involves providing the End Point Assessment Organisation with certain required paperwork. Documentation can be broken down into 2 groups. The first includes evidence expected in all apprenticeships, regardless of the standard, e.g., Maths and English, passed or attempted, depending on the Level of the standard; proof that the Apprentice has been on programme for at least 1 year; a portfolio of evidence as required by the EPA Plan. The other pieces of evidence are specific to the standard the Apprentice is taking, e.g., 12-Hour Paediatric First Aid Course.
Once the EPAO have checked the paperwork submitted for Gateway, the Apprentice begins their End Point Assessment journey. This is an opportunity for the Apprentice to showcase what they have learned during their Apprenticeship to an Independent End Point Assessor. Each standard has specific time limits and requirements for the EPA, we have outlined below the requirements for the 3 Early Years standards.
Level 2 Early Years Practitioner – The EPA is typically 3 months long and consists of 40 multiple-choice questions and a Professional Discussion, underpinned with their Portfolio of Evidence.
Level 3 Early Years Lead – The EPA is a maximum of 3 months long and consists of a 35-question multiple-choice Knowledge Test and again, a Professional Discussion, underpinned with their Portfolio of Evidence.
Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner – This EPA is longer and can take up to 5 months. There are 3 components, a Professional Discussion underpinned with their Portfolio of Evidence; an Observation followed with questions; and a case study with a report and presentation, also followed by questioning.
SS Educational Services have comprehensive Brochures, Step-by-Step Guides and all the templates needed to support the Apprentice’s EPA journey. Please use the chat box or email contact@sseducationalservices.co.uk and ask for Sandra for further information.
