Showcase Magazine Winter 2026 - Flipbook - Page 21
HIGHER LEVEL
LEARNING
Is the Training You Do with Staff Enough?
by Gemma Kerr
At first glance, the requirements may appear straightforward. Apprenticeships at Level 2 or Level 3 remain a common
entry route for many early years practitioners, providing essential knowledge on safeguarding, child development,
and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework (Department for Education, 2021). However, as experienced
managers will recognise, these qualifications, while important, represent only the beginning. A Level 2 or Level 3
qualification may enable a practitioner to meet minimum standards, but it does not necessarily prepare them to
deliver exceptional, curiosity-driven learning experiences (Siraj-Blatchford et al., 2002).
Many nurseries rely on annual online courses, such as
