Children and Young People’s Workforce Qualifications

Who is this qualification for?

This qualification is aimed at individuals who have an interest in working with children and young people. It is recommended that all learners will have completed Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. It forms the combined knowledge and competency element of the Intermediate Apprenticeship for the Children and Young People’s Workforce and can also be taken as a stand-alone qualification.

As of 1 September 2019, this qualification is no longer the required qualification for those wishing to work in the Level 2 staff:child ratios of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework (EYFS) (children aged 0-5). Learners must instead be registered onto a DfE approved Level 2 Early Years Practitioner criteria qualification. The DfE provide a list of regulated qualifications that are ‘full and relevant’ and accepted in the ratios.

The Intermediate Children and Young People’s Workforce Apprenticeship Framework was amended from 1 September 2019 to include the DfE approved Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualifications. 

There will be 2 sub-pathways:

• a sub-pathway for people wishing to work outside of early years (0-5 years) which will include the current mandatory qualifications.
• an Early Years Practitioner sub-pathway for those wishing to work with the 0-5 age range. This will include the DfE approved Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualifications as the mandatory qualifications. 

Those working with 6-19 year olds will still be able to complete this qualification and will remain in the current SASE framework (The Intermediate Children and Young People’s Workforce Apprenticeship Framework). 

How long will it take?

The total qualification time (TQT) for this qualification is 350 hours and of this 261 hours is recommended as guided learning (GL).  

Topics covered

These include communication in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings, Introduction to personal development in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings, child and young person development, safeguarding the welfare of children and young people, support children and young people’s positive behaviour and maintain and support relationships with children and young people.

Assessment method

This qualification is assessed by a portfolio of evidence.

Invaluable support for your learners 

Highfield Products provides some fantastic training materials that we think your learners will love when taking this qualification. Simply visit  Level 2 Children and Young People's Workforce for details on our Apprenti-kit that supports this qualification.

Qualification Specification 

A full qualification specification is available for approved centres in the Download Area.