National Professional Qualification for Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL)
For: To apply, you need to be an early years practitioner who is qualified to at least level three, with a full and relevant early years or teaching qualification, e.g. current or aspiring manager of a private, voluntary or independent early years setting; a headteacher of a school-based or maintained early years setting; an early years foundation stage leader in a state funded school or a childminder with leadership responsibilities.
Course length: 18 months
Accreditation: NPQEYL
Programme start date: Autumn 2026
Cost: £1,139 + VAT
Brochure: Download
We’re pleased to announce that we are partnering with education charity Ambition Institute to deliver the new NPQ in Early Years Leadership.
Over the course of 18 months, participants will develop expertise in early years leadership, helping to give all children up to the age of five the best possible start in life.
Those doing the training will:
- Gain a NPQ for Early Years Leadership accreditation in 18 months
- Access the latest evidence-based learning
- Become an expert in early years education
- Broaden their network of early years leaders
Ambition Institute has developed this new NPQ to deepen your understanding of high-quality early years education and care.
Using a ‘little and often’ approach grounded in the latest evidence, the programme helps you apply your learning directly in your setting. You’ll train alongside other early years leaders, building the expertise needed to tackle the ongoing challenges of your role.
Developed by the Department for Education with input from early years leaders, academics and experts, this NPQ sits alongside those for teachers and school leaders. All Ambition NPQs share a common language and framework to support improvement across education.
Designed for busy professionals, the programme requires no project work and minimal time away from your setting.
Framework
National Professional Qualification for Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) is designed for leaders with a Level 3 (or above) full and relevant qualification who are, or aspire to be, nursery managers (PVI or maintained), heads of school-based nurseries, or childminders with leadership responsibilities. More details are available in the framework.
Leading a nursery requires strong strategic and operational knowledge, and the ability to work effectively with others to give every child the best start in life.
Early years leaders need a clear understanding of their setting, community, and the children and adults they support. They also develop expertise in areas such as high-quality education and care, parental engagement, special educational needs, and organisational management—alongside skills in driving improvement through professional development and effective implementation.
Successful leaders connect these areas to set a clear vision, build a strong culture, and create conditions where children thrive and staff are supported to stay and grow.
The framework sets out the essential knowledge and skills for leading a high-quality nursery. Training providers use it to design programmes tailored to participants’ needs and their setting.
Benefits for you
Thrive as a leader
This programme is designed specifically for leaders of early years education. Through evidence-based professional development, you will learn what great early years learning looks like and how to lead others and your setting. You will also discover what others can learn from you.
Close the gap
Evidence shows that high quality care and education in the early years is fundamental for a child’s development, preparing them for school and later life.* We’ll help you to develop the knowledge to deliver this for the children you support.
Train to your timetable
This is a flexible programme, designed to fit around your existing work commitments. Most of the training can be completed at a time that suits you with minimal time spent away from your setting.
Connect with peers
You’ll train with people from early years settings, sharing your experiences and building a strong support network.
Tailor your training
The programme allows you to apply the theory to your early years’ context.
*Sources:
Barnett, W. S. (1995). “Long-term effects of early childhood programs on cognitive and school outcomes”. The Future of Children, 25-50.
Heckman, J., Pinto, R. and Savelyev, P. (2013). “Understanding the mechanisms through which an influential early childhood program boosted adult outcomes”. American Economic Review 103(6), 2052-2086.
Benefits for your early years setting
Give young people the best start
Equipping your leaders with evidence-based training on what good education and care looks like will help to create a level playing field for children in the early stages of life.
Benefit from tailored training
This is the first NPQ that is designed specifically for early years practitioners. It will develop expertise in identifying and addressing persistent and common challenges in early years leadership.
Invest in high-quality professional development
Participants will learn how to unpack and apply learning across all aspects of the early years – and support their colleagues to develop in these areas too.
Create a ‘golden thread’
The new NPQs are all aligned. Right from the start, your leaders will benefit from an evidence-based framework with a common language that they can pass onto colleagues.
Tap into a network
Your leaders will train alongside peers from other early years settings, supported by facilitators who fully understand their needs.
Curriculum & Framework
This publication provides guidance from the Department for Education (DfE). It sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will be developed by school leaders when they participate in the National Professional Qualification for Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL).
The Curriculum Map outlines the learning and structure of the programme.
Assessment
The assessment takes place at the end of the 18-month programme. Participants will be given an eight-day window to sit an ‘open book’ style assessment in which they respond to a short case study.
There are two assessment windows every year, and participants can re-sit the assessment if necessary.
You need to complete the course to qualify for the NPQ accreditation.
Ambition Institute will offer a webinar and live clinic in advance of the assessment window to support participants.