EPA Standard
Early Years Practitioner
Early Years Practitioners (EYPs) work directly with children every day. They help plan and deliver activities and play that support learning. EYPs work in a team to care for children. They’re guided by an Early Years Educator, teacher or another qualified professional.
They support both child-led and adult-led activities based on each child’s needs and interests. They also help children feel safe and supported. EYPs help observe and assess each child, support learning and meet care needs.
Level 2 
£4,000 
12 months
Why NCFE?
We’re an approved End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) specialising in EPA delivery across health, education, early years, digital, social care, and business apprenticeship standards. We offer flexible and reliable EPA solutions supported by sector expertise, guidance documents and proactive service and support.
End Point Assessment
The EPA for Early Years Practitioner contains two methods of assessment:
Professional Discussion underpinned by a Portfolio
A two-way discussion, lasting a maximum of 90 minutes, which involves both the Independent End-Point Assessor (IEPA) and the apprentice actively listening and participating in a formal conversation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to make detailed and proactive contributions to confirm their competency across the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) mapped
to this method. Questions will focus on the apprentice’s depth and breadth of KSBs, with the apprentice using their Portfolio of Evidence to support their responses as necessary.
Grading weighting: the IEPA grades the Professional Discussion as Fail, Pass or Distinction. It accounts for 50% of the EPA.
Knowledge Test
The Knowledge Test is a closed-book exam which features 40 multiple-choice questions carrying one mark each. The assessment will test the apprentice’s knowledge requirements as outlined in the standard. The apprentice will need to pass 26 of the 40 questions to achieve a Pass, and pass 32 to achieve a Distinction.
Grading weighting: the Knowledge Test is graded as Fail, Pass or Distinction. It accounts for 50% of the EPA.
Early Years Practitioner
Delivering from 26 March 2020
Download standard PDF Skills England standard