The EPA has three assessment methods:
1: Observation with questioning
2: Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
3: Case study with report and presentation and questioning
Observation with questioning: (Face to Face) 90 mins
This will include:
- Observation of the opportunities and experiences outlined in the session plan. (60 minutes)
- Questioning, to allow the independent assessor to understand the reasons behind the apprentice’s actions and to provide opportunity to draw out further detail regarding the KSBs mapped to the assessment method. (30 minutes)
- Grading: • fail • pass • distinction
- The observation must be in an Early Years setting working with children. The following activities must be observed during the observation:
- The apprentice interacting with a group of children through an opportunity or experience for learning based on the session plan.
- The apprentice leading/supervising colleagues during this session.
- The apprentice communicating with parents/carers/guardians of the children under their supervision.
- The apprentice must prepare a session plan (no more than two sides of A4 in size 12 font), including relevant risk assessments prior to the observation outlining the following:
- “what” opportunities and experiences will be supported (outline of learning focus)
- “who” is involved (i.e., number of children/children’s profiles/parents/guardians/colleagues)
- “when” it will occur (i.e., scheduled date/time)
- “how” the session will be supported (i.e., how it provides the apprentie the opportunity to provide coverage of the KSB's)
- why” these areas of focus for learning have been selected (i.e., the probable skills and approaches that the apprentice will use to support and extend the children’s learning)
- “where” it will begin (i.e., indoors/outdoors)
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence: 60 mins
Apprentices must be given at least two weeks’ notice ahead of the professional discussion.
The professional discussion is underpinned by the portfolio which is submitted as a gateway requirement. The independent assessor has a minimum of 5 days to review the portfolio and can use the contents of the portfolio to identify discussion topics for the professional discussion.
Independent assessors will use the question bank as a source for questioning and are expected to use their professional judgement to tailor those questions appropriately. Independent assessors will ask a minimum of 6 questions and may ask follow-up questions for clarification purposes.
Professional discussion can be conducted face to face or via video conferencing.
Grading: fail • pass • distinction
Case study with report and presentation and questioning
This assessment method has two components
Component 1: Case study report
Apprentices will conduct a case study and produce a case study report either paper based or electronically.
Before the apprentice begins writing up their case study, the case study title and scope must be signed off by the EPAO to ensure its suitability and sufficient coverage of the assigned KSBs. The case study, report and presentation should be designed to allow the relevant KSBs to be assessed for the EPA.
The case study starts after the apprentice has gone through the gateway. The typical duration of the case study should be 12 weeks. For the case study, the apprentice will conduct a series of observations of a child or group of children over a period of typically six weeks and produce a case study report. The case study needs to be 4,000 words (+/- 10% at the apprentice’s discretion). The case study must include, in addition to the word count, an annex showing how the case study maps to all of the KSBs that are being assessed by this method
The case study report must be submitted 12 weeks after the gateway. The independent assessor will review and assess the case study report holistically together with the other components of this assessment method.
Component 2: Presentation and questioning: 40 mins
The presentation content will be completed and submitted 12 weeks after the gateway at the same time as the case study report. The independent assessor must have at least 2 weeks in advance of the assessment to review the report and presentation and prepare questions
The case study report and presentation will be presented to an independent assessor, either face-to-face or via online video conferencing.
The apprentice must also be given two weeks’ notice of the presentation date. There will be a 40-minute presentation and questioning, split into typically 20 minutes for the presentation and typically 20 minutes questioning.
The independent assessor will ask a minimum of 4 questions at the end of the presentation.
Grading: fail • pass • distinction