Pathways

Full and Relevant Early Years Qualifications – Your Recognised Route Into the Early Years Workforce

We offer ‘Full and Relevant’ Early Years Qualifications which offer you a recognised route into the Early Years workforce.

An NCFE Technical Occupational Entry qualification or an NCFE Level 4 Diploma in Early Years is formally recognised as full and relevant for work within early years settings. These qualifications meet national requirements for practitioners to be included in staff‑to‑child ratios and to undertake key responsibilities within regulated provision.

Whether you are beginning your journey into early years education or seeking to recruit confident, well‑prepared practitioners, these qualifications provide a trusted and compliant foundation.

What “Full and Relevant” Means
In early years education, the term full and relevant refers to qualifications that meet the standards required for practitioners to:

• Be counted in statutory staff‑to‑child ratios
• Support children’s learning and development from birth to five
• Contribute to safeguarding, welfare, and high‑quality practice
• Work confidently within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework

NCFE qualifications at Technical Occupational Entry and Level 4 have been designed to align with these expectations, ensuring both learners and employers can rely on their professional validity.

A Strong Foundation for the Future

Whether you are beginning your early years career or strengthening your team, NCFE’s Technical Occupational Entry and Level 4 Diplomas offer a reliable, recognised, and professionally respected pathway. They ensure that practitioners are fully prepared to support young children’s learning, development, and wellbeing within high‑quality early years environments.

Quality Mark Pathway: Montessori in Practice

Recognised Montessori Specialism for Qualified Practitioners

The Quality Mark pathway, which includes Montessori in Practice, is designed for practitioners who already hold a full and relevant early years qualification. This pathway builds on your existing professional status and adds a respected Montessori specialism that is valued across both Montessori and mainstream early years settings.

The programme is Quality Marked by Crossfields Institute, providing an additional layer of external assurance and signalling that the training meets rigorous standards for professional development within the early years sector.

For Qualified Practitioners – Enhance Your Practice With a Montessori Specialism

If you already hold a recognised early years qualification, the Quality Mark pathway enables you to extend your professional skillset with a Montessori‑aligned approach to working with children from birth to three.

What This Pathway Offers

• A Crossfields Institute Quality Mark, demonstrating that the programme meets high standards of professional training
• A recognised Montessori specialism that complements your existing qualification
• Enhanced employability in both Montessori and non‑Montessori early years settings
• A practical, hands‑on programme that builds directly on the knowledge and experience you already have
• A deeper understanding of child‑led, developmentally responsive practice, grounded in Montessori principles

This pathway is ideal for practitioners who want to enrich their practice without repeating content they have already mastered.

A Practical, Experience‑Led Approach

Montessori in Practice is designed to be highly practical, using your existing knowledge as a foundation. The programme focuses on real‑world application, enabling you to integrate Montessori principles seamlessly into your day‑to‑day work with young children.

This ensures that your learning is immediately relevant, deeply embedded, and directly beneficial to the children and families you support.