Flying Start practitioner

A Flying Start worker provides care and support for children in their learning and development in an unsupervised or supervisory role.

The role aims to make sure children experience a wide range of creative and experimental play opportunities in a safe and welcoming environment.

For qualification requirements, a childminder who doesn’t work with an assistant(s) is defined as a Flying Start Practitioner and a childminder who does work with a childminder assistant(s) in the setting is defined as a Flying Start Leader.

Please note, that a childminding assistant that supports a Flying Start Leader in delivering Flying Start provision is defined as a Flying Start Practitioner.

If you have a query about childcare and early years qualifications, email us at qualsandstandards@socialcare.wales. Please tell us the qualification title, where the qualification was obtained, the job role and the type of setting the role is for.

Last updated: 6 November 2025

Current qualification accepted

Required by Welsh Government policy:

WJEC Level 2 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core

plus

City and Guilds Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice

WJEC Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory

Any of the accepted qualifications listed for Flying Start workers on this framework

Degrees:

University of South Wales: BA Early Years Education and Practice (with Early Years Practitioner status)
University of South Wales: Fd Early Years Education and Practice (with Early Years Practitioner status)
Cardiff Metropolitan University: BA (Hons) Early years education and professional practice with EYPS
Glyndwr University: Fd Early Childhood Studies (EYPS)
University Trinity St Davids: BA Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
Swansea University: Early Childhood Studies with Early years practitioner
Aberystwyth University: BA Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practitioner Status
Swansea University: Early Childhood Studies With Early Years Practitioner Status with a Year Abroad
University Trinity St David’s: HE Diploma Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
Prifysgol Caerdydd: BA (Anrh) Addysg Gynnar ac Ymarferydd Proffesiynol gyda Statws Ymarferydd Blynyddoedd Cynnar (bi-lingual)
Prifysgol Cymru y Drindod Dewi Sant: BA Addysg a Gofal Blynyddoedd Cynnar: Statws Ymarferydd Blynyddoedd Cynnar (available through the medium of Welsh)

Past qualifications

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Advanced Practice) Wales and Northern Ireland
City and Guilds Level 4 Professional Practice in Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development
Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Wales and Northern Ireland)
CACHE Extended Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
EDEXCEL BTEC Level 3 National Certificate/Diploma Children’s Care, Learning and Development – CCLD (only if commenced prior to 2014)
CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education
NVQ 3 Children’s Care Learning and Development
NVQ 3 Child Care and Education
NVQ 3 Early Years Care and Education
CACHE Diploma in Child Care and Education
Diploma in Nursery Nursing Level 3
Award in Early Years and Child Care for Play Workers (transitional awards)
Level 3 Certificate in Work with Children
CACHE Diploma in Nursery Nursing (DNN) (informally known as NNEB)
Diploma in Childcare and Education (DCE)
National Certificate in Caring Services (Nursery Nursing)
National Diploma in Caring Services (Nursery Nursing)
National Certificate in Childhood Studies (Nursery Nursing)
National Diploma in Childhood Studies (Nursery Nursing)
National Certificate in Early Years
National Diploma in Early Years
Open University (OU) Level 4 Certificate in Early Years Practice
Cardiff Metropolitan University: BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practice Status (EYPS) (only if awarded prior to December 2022)
NVQ 4 Children’s Care, Learning and Development
NVQ 4 Early Years Care and Education

Current qualification accepted

Required by Welsh Government policy:

WJEC Level 2 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core

City and Guilds Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice

WJEC Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory

Degrees:

University of South Wales: BA Early Years Education and Practice (with Early Years Practitioner status)

University of South Wales: Fd Early Years Education and Practice (with Early Years Practitioner status)

Cardiff Metropolitan University: BA (Hons) Early years education and professional practice with EYPS

Glyndwr University: Fd Early Childhood Studies (EYPS)

University Trinity St Davids: BA Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status

Swansea University: Early Childhood Studies with Early years practitioner

Aberystwyth University: BA Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practitioner Status

Swansea University: Early Childhood Studies With Early Years Practitioner Status with a Year Abroad

University Trinity St David’s: HE Diploma Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status

Prifysgol Caerdydd: BA (Anrh) Addysg Gynnar ac Ymarferydd Proffesiynol gyda Statws Ymarferydd Blynyddoedd Cynnar (bi-lingual)

Prifysgol Cymru y Drindod Dewi Sant: BA Addysg a Gofal Blynyddoedd Cynnar: Statws Ymarferydd Blynyddoedd Cynnar (available through the medium of Welsh)

Past qualifications

Qualifications gained outside of Wales

Induction requirements