EPA Early Years Lead

Skillsfirst Awards Ltd; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education-focused organization in the UK is seeking an EPA Early Years Lead to conduct and moderate high-quality End-point assessments for Early Years apprentices. This role requires a strong background in vocational education with specific qualifications in assessment. You will benefit from flexible working arrangements, generous annual leave, and various employee wellness initiatives. Join a supportive environment dedicated to advancing education for the public benefit.

Benefits

26 days annual leave + bank holidays

Flexible working arrangements

Enhanced sick pay benefits

Healthcare services worth up to £1,400

Free parking and free refreshments

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ experience within the specialist vocational sector.
• 3+ years’ experience in teaching and assessing vocationally related courses.
• Experience of liaising directly with regulators.

Responsibilities

• Conduct high-quality, consistent End-point Assessments for Early Years apprentices.
• Evaluate apprentices’ knowledge against apprenticeship standards.
• Ensure all End-point assessment reports are high quality and accurate.

Skills

Teaching or educational assessment qualification, above level 5

Excellent proof-reading skill

Excellent rapport building

Evidence of assessing apprentice competence

Expert knowledge of Ofqual and IfATE regulations

Education

Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement

Level 4 Certificate in the Internal Quality Assurance

Job description

If you are passionate about education and want to work in a vibrant environment with people, who believe in our mission to advance education for the public benefit, please apply and support our charitable objectives. As a diversity-sensitive employer, we are always looking out for exceptional talent to join us from a wide range of backgrounds.

We are seeking an EPA Early Years Lead on a 12 month fixed term contract to conduct and moderate high-quality, fair, and consistent End-point Assessments for Early Years apprentices, ensuring that they meet the requirements of the relevant apprenticeship standards.

VTCT Skills (the working name of Vocational Training Charitable Trust) is a market-leading specialist vocational and technical Awarding Organisation. We offer a comprehensive range of qualifications, assessments and services in 17 sectors, including Hairdressing, Beauty, Logistics and Early Years. Working closely with employers and training providers, our ranges are backed by industry and trusted around the world. With over 3,000 training locations, we help over 120,000 learners achieve professional skills that transform their lives, every year.

Principal Responsibilities include

• Undertake remote and face-to-face End-point assessments for all Early Years standards Levels 2-5, in a timely mannerand in line with regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours against the criteria outlined in the Early years apprenticeship standards.
• Maintain service-level agreements with regards to responding to End-point assessment planning, operational activities, reports and submissions of assessment outcomes.
• Report all risks and issues encountered during the End-point assessment to the Quality and Customer Experience Lead, including any suspected malpractice/maladministration.
• Ensure all End-point assessment reports and assessment evidence are high quality and recorded accurately.
• Moderate End-point Assessments to ensure consistency and accuracy across different assessors and standards providing constructive feedback to maintain high standards of assessment quality.
• Assign risk ratings and regularly review to identify and mitigate potential issues that could impact assessment integrity and compliance.
• Support the Quality and customer experience Lead to deliver and facilitate in-person and online training for Early Years Independent Assessors to cover procedural, process and best practice quality assurance strategies for a range of assessment methods.
• Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of assessment processes and tools, identifying opportunities for enhancement and participating in relevant projects.
• Provide technical expertise and support to colleagues including the quality and customer experience lead and EPA administrators to resolve customer queries and complete EPA Surgeries.

Essential Criteria (as part of our commitment to support people with disabilities, anyone with a registered disability who meets this criteria will be offered an interview. Please make us aware if this applies to you)

• Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (or legacy equivalent).
• Level 4 Certificate in the Internal Quality Assurance of the Assessment Process (or legacy equivalent).
• 3+ years’ Experience within the specialist vocational sector.
• 3+ years’ Experience in teaching, assessing and internal quality assurance on vocationally related skill-based courses of learning
• Excellent proof-reading skill/ Exceptional Eye to detail.
• Evidence of assessing apprentice competence, at the level or above of the End-point Assessment or as specified in the assessment standard.
• Teaching or educational assessment qualification, above level 5.
• Experience of liaising directly with regulators
• Excellent rapport building and consultative selling skills.
• Hold advanced qualifications in a vocational specialism.
• Have expert knowledge of Ofqual and IfATE regulations and requirements for conducting end-point assessment and quality assurance activities.

Benefits (Please enquire if you would like more information about these before you apply)

• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years.
• Day for your birthday
• Life assurance 4* salary
• Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours)
• Enhanced sick pay benefits after probation (3 months full pay)
• Enhanced pension contributions after postponement period (up to 10% employer contributions)
• Retail discount offers
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programmeWellbeing initiatives and support
• A vibrant array of social opportunities
• Free parking, free tea and coffee and free fruit
• Healthcare services worth up to £1,400 and access to 24/7 GP services
• Regular massages for office staff
• Wide array of training and development opportunities

Once you have applied will we get in touch after the advertising has closed let you know if you have been shortlisted for interview. If you are not contacted after this time you should assume you were not successful this time; we cannot give feedback due to the volume of applications.

Application closing date: 6th February 2026

Interviews for this role are ongoing throughout the application timeframe and beyond.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.