Big change for Level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeships

On 1 August 2025, the new version (v1.1) of the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner came into effect.

The most significant update?

An Observation with Questioning is now part of the Apprenticeship Assessment.  Instead of undertaking a multiple-choice test, apprentices will now be observed in practice for 50 minutes, followed by up to 30 minutes of questioning from their assessor.

This change is designed to:

• Give apprentices the chance to demonstrate their skills in real time

• Provide a more authentic reflection of day-to-day practice

• Allow assessors to dig deeper into knowledge through targeted questioning

At Steadfast Assessment, we see this as a positive step towards making assessment more practical, fair, and aligned with the realities of working in early years settings.

Apprentices starting after 1 August 2025 will follow v1.1.Apprentices already on programme before then will still complete v1.0.

The funding band for the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner v1.1 is £5000 and the cost of the Apprenticeship Assessment for this standard with Steadfast Assessment is £695.

It’s a change worth preparing for - and one that ultimately supports apprentices to shine in their natural environment.