Early Years Educator

Version 1.3 – TQUK Level 3 End-Point Assessment for ST0135 Early Years Educator (603/5833/6)

Funding: £7,000

Duration: 18 months

Level: 3

Number: ST0135

LARS Number: 430

Version: 1.3

See Versions 1.2 | 1.3

This page describes the latest version of the Early Years Educator standard (version 1.3), which came into force in April 2024. Version 1.2 is still in use for apprentices who started between 28th May 2020 and 31st March 2024. For more information, please visit the IfATE’s website.

Early Years Educators shape the minds of the future. Working with young children, they're based within a range of settings, including full day care, children’s centres, preschools, reception classes and in homes (for example, as childminders). They must have the ability to adapt to changing situations, remain calm and patient at all times, and communicate clearly as they help the next generation at this most critical stage of their development.

End-Point Assessment Components 

To complete their End-Point Assessment, Early Years Educator apprentices must achieve a pass or distinction in the following two components.

  • The observation with questioning must last a total of 1 hour and 20 minutes. The End-Point Assessor observes the apprentice in their workplace and asks questions to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) mapped to this assessment method.

    The End-Point Assessor has the discretion to increase the time of the observation with questioning by up to 10% to allow the apprentice to complete a task or respond to a question if necessary.

  • The professional discussion aims to draw out the best of the apprentice’s competence by assessing their knowledge, skills and behaviours. The underpinning portfolio includes naturally-occurring evidence and helps the End-Point Assessor question and analyse against the KSBs. It will typically contain 12 discrete pieces of evidence.

    The End-Point Assessor conducts and assesses the professional discussion which lasts for 90 minutes (+10%).

Why TQUK?

Assessment planning meetings for all apprentices

5 working days average turnaround for EPA results**

Assessors make contact within 5 working days

Gateway submission reviewed within 24 hours

Assessor assigned after 24 hours of acceptance

Average gateway-to-completion of 6 weeks*

*unless otherwise stipulated by the assessment plan  **current average is 2.5 working days turnaround for EPA results

Gateway Requirements

Learn more about this standard