Who is NPQICL for?

The National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL) is aimed at leaders of designated children's centres due to be designated before programme delivery starts.

This includes leaders of designated children's centres that have originated from Sure Start local programmes, neighbourhood nursery initiatives and maintained nursery schools that have become or been nominated as children's centres. Within this criteria all sectors, including the private sector, are invited to apply.

Applicants must be a:

leader, deputy or deputy equivalent of a designated children's centre
member of a senior management team with a substantial role in leading centre services
leader of private provision who can demonstrate that you are leading centre services in a formal partnership with designated public provision

Please note that the qualification is for practising leaders who will be delivering integrated services in a setting during the year they undertake the qualification. All applicants must be capable of being assessed in the children's centre for which they have day-to-day leadership responsibility.

The programme is not designed for strategic leaders or local authority advisers.

The NPQICL programme running from September 2011 through to July 2012 is to be the last programme held using the current model. The programme will be reviewed during 2011-12 with the intention that a refreshed programme will be available from 2012. Further information will be provided as the revised content is developed.

Are you ready for NPQICL?

Our new interactive resource will help you consider whether you are ready to undertake NPQICL. It includes a self-assessment tool (the Signpost tool) which takes you through the eligibility requirements of the programme, and also provides advice on how to gain relevant experience, if necessary.