Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship: Employer Responsibilities and Assessment Changes
From the 1st November 2026, the Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship moves to a reformed 14-month programme, with apprenticeship assessment built into the learning journey. As an employer, you play an essential role in helping your apprentice develop the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours needed in an early years setting. That means supporting workplace learning, verifying evidence of professional behaviours and reviewing progress with your apprentice and their Development Coach throughout the programme. This guide explains what is changing, what you need to do and how you can support your apprentice towards Gateway to Completion.
What's changing from November 2026?
The reformed apprenticeship keeps the same occupational standard and required learning, but changes how the programme is structured and how assessment readiness is reviewed. The key changes are:
14-month programme: learning and assessment preparation take place within the programme, rather than being followed by a separate three-month end-point assessment (EPA) period.
Integrated apprenticeship assessment: apprentices complete a mandatory workplace Observation with Q&A and one additional assessment method selected by the assessment centre.
Five readiness checkpoints: progress is reviewed at Months 3, 6, 9, 12 and 14.
Employer responsibility for behaviours: you verify and sign off evidence of the eight occupational behaviours (B1 to B8), gathered continuously from Month 1.
Gateway to Completion: readiness is reviewed as part of the apprenticeship journey, with you, your apprentice and NCE working together to identify and address any gaps.
Together, these changes make ongoing workplace evidence and your involvement as an employer an important part of your apprentice's development.
Your responsibilities as an employer
Your role is essential in helping your apprentice develop and demonstrate the professional behaviours expected in early years practice. From Month 1, you are responsible for observing your apprentice's workplace practice and verifying evidence against the eight required occupational behaviours (B1 to B8).
What you need to do
Observe workplace practice: identify authentic examples of how your apprentice demonstrates the required behaviours in their day-to-day role.
Record behaviour evidence: start gathering relevant workplace examples from Month 1 and keep this evidence up to date throughout the programme. An employer checklist/process is in development and is not yet available.
Attend progress reviews: work with your apprentice and their Development Coach at Months 3, 6, 9, 12 and 14 to review progress and readiness.
Verify behaviour evidence: confirm that the evidence is authentic and demonstrates the required behaviours at each checkpoint.
Identify development needs: discuss strengths, gaps and any additional support your apprentice needs before assessment readiness is confirmed.
Support workplace learning: give your apprentice opportunities to apply their learning, develop their practical skills and gather relevant evidence.
Understanding behaviours B1 to B8
Professional behaviours are an ongoing part of the apprenticeship, not a separate module to complete at the end. Your apprentice should demonstrate the eight occupational behaviours throughout the 14-month programme, and you will need to observe their practice, identify relevant workplace examples and maintain evidence of these behaviours.
At each readiness checkpoint, review the evidence with your apprentice and their Development Coach. Where there are gaps, agree clear actions to help your apprentice develop and demonstrate the required behaviours.
Your verification of behaviour evidence contributes to assessment readiness and Gateway to Completion. It does not replace independent assessment or determine your apprentice's final grade.
The five readiness checkpoints
The reformed programme includes five checkpoints to help you, your apprentice and their Development Coach monitor progress and identify any areas that need further development.
Month 3: Review the foundations
Check progress with the initial learning, workplace practice and behaviour evidence. Identify any early support needs.
Month 6: Review development
Discuss how your apprentice is applying their learning and gathering evidence of the required behaviours.
Month 9: Review progress
Check development across the programme, review workplace evidence and agree any actions needed to address gaps.
Month 12: Review readiness
Review your apprentice's progress against programme requirements and identify any remaining development needs.
Month 14: Consolidate and confirm readiness
Review the completed learning, required evidence and professional behaviours as part of the process towards Gateway to Completion.
These checkpoints are planned opportunities to review progress. They do not automatically confirm assessment readiness or guarantee completion by a particular date.
How does the new assessment work?
Under the reformed programme, apprenticeship assessment takes place within the 14-month learning journey, rather than through a separate three-month EPA period. There are two assessment components.
1. Mandatory workplace Observation with Q&A
Your apprentice demonstrates their practice in the workplace through an observation, followed by questions and answers. This assesses how they apply their knowledge and skills in their role.
2. One additional assessment method
The assessment centre selects one of the following two methods.
Professional Discussion
A structured discussion about your apprentice's knowledge, skills and experience.
Case Study
A case study based on a child study, allowing your apprentice to demonstrate their understanding and application of the required knowledge and skills.
The assessment methods can take place in either order, at an appropriate point after readiness has been confirmed by your apprentice, you as the employer and NCE.
Your role is to support your apprentice's development, contribute to readiness reviews and verify the required workplace behaviour evidence. The independent assessor remains responsible for the independent assessment and the final apprenticeship outcome.
What is Gateway to Completion?
Gateway to Completion is the readiness stage within the reformed programme. It helps establish whether your apprentice has met the relevant requirements and is ready to undertake their apprenticeship assessment.
Working with your apprentice and their Development Coach, you will review progress, required learning and verified behaviour evidence. If gaps remain, these should be identified and addressed before readiness is confirmed. Your confirmation as the employer is an important part of this process, but it does not replace the independent assessment.
Other programme requirements
Alongside supporting workplace development and verifying behaviours, you should continue to work with NCE to make sure your apprentice meets the programme's other requirements. These include:
Supporting completion of required learning and off-the-job training.
Helping your apprentice gather relevant workplace evidence.
Supporting functional skills requirements where applicable.
Ensuring your apprentice meets the mandatory completion requirement for a suitable Level 3 Paediatric First Aid or Emergency Paediatric First Aid qualification. Certificate acceptance, costs and training arrangements are awaiting approval.
Taking part in progress reviews and acting on agreed development actions.
Speak to your apprentice's Development Coach if you are unsure about the qualification requirements, the evidence needed or the arrangements that apply to your apprentice.
How can you support your apprentice effectively?
Regular communication and meaningful workplace opportunities will help your apprentice build confidence and demonstrate their competence. Throughout the programme, you can:
Make time to discuss their learning and progress.
Provide opportunities to practise and develop their skills in the setting.
Give constructive feedback and recognise progress.
Record examples of professional behaviours as they happen, rather than leaving evidence until the end.
Attend readiness reviews and follow up on agreed actions.
Contact their Development Coach if concerns arise or additional support is needed.
Working together throughout the programme keeps expectations clear and means any development needs are addressed as early as possible.
Frequently asked questions
What are my responsibilities for behaviours B1 to B8?
You observe workplace practice, gather evidence from Month 1 and verify authentic examples of the eight professional behaviours at the five readiness checkpoints in Months 3, 6, 9, 12 and 14. An employer checklist/process is being developed and is not yet available.
Do I determine whether my apprentice passes their assessment?
No. You verify workplace behaviour evidence and contribute to readiness reviews. The independent assessment process determines your apprentice's final outcome.
Is there still a separate EPA period?
For new starts under the reformed programme from 1 November 2026, there is no separate three-month EPA period. Apprenticeship assessment is integrated into the 14-month programme.
Can I choose the additional assessment method?
No. The assessment centre selects either a Professional Discussion or a Case Study based on a child study. The other assessment component, the workplace Observation with Q&A, is mandatory.
What happens if my apprentice is not ready at a checkpoint?
Use the review to identify gaps, agree development actions and work with your apprentice's Development Coach to provide the support they need. A checkpoint does not automatically confirm readiness or guarantee completion by a specific date.
Where can I get further guidance?
Your apprentice's Development Coach is your main point of contact for questions about programme requirements, workplace evidence, readiness reviews and assessment arrangements.
Ready to plan your next cohort?
Talk to the NCE employer team.
Whether you are shaping a business case, comparing providers or planning a trust-wide programme, we will help you get from question to confident decision.
