A qualified Early Intervention Practitioner in schools is someone who plays a vital role in providing timely, flexible support to children and young people, preventing the need for more complex solutions later. Through targeted interventions and collaborative efforts, they help pupils stay engaged in their education and achieve their potential. Whether supporting behavioural, attendance or emotional issues, these practitioners ensure pupils receive the right help at the right time, making a meaningful impact on their wellbeing and academic success.
The Early Intervention Practitioner Level 4 apprenticeship is a work-based programme completed over 12-18 months. It can be funded by the apprenticeship levy or co-funded by your employer. During this programme, you'll gain hands-on experience in your workplace while studying for your qualification through off-the-job training.
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you'll become a qualified Early Intervention Practitioner and a Thrive Licensed Practitioner.
Please check you're eligible first before applying
To be eligible for November's cohort, you must:
By training with Thrive you will:
Ceri Totty
STF Manager, Teacher & Thrive Lead, Townhill Community School.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
“Thrive training ignited a renewed passion in me and has helped enormously with my professional development. It truly was a lightbulb moment in my career. The school has transformed, with improved behaviour, attendance, pupil and staff wellbeing, and no exclusions.”
Steven Portues
Pastoral Intervention Coordinator & Thrive Licensed Practitioner, Acklam Grange School.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
“I find the neuroscience side of Thrive fascinating and enjoy helping young people understand how their brains work. A young person I work with had very low confidence and self-esteem, now they’re unrecognisable – confident, social and excited about the future.”
An Early Intervention Practitioner is responsible for identifying and sourcing the right intervention at the right time in an individual’s life. They provide early mental health, wellbeing and behaviour support to children and young people and nurture the vital skills they need to engage with life and learning.
Early Intervention Practitioners work in many different environments within early years, schools, colleges, youth organisations and across the community to meet the mental health needs of the children and young people they are supporting.
The apprenticeship is a work-based programme completed over 12-18 months.
The training will be delivered by experienced Thrive experts using a blend of interactive classroom sessions, 1:1 tutor time, small tutor group sessions and self-directed e-learning.
You'll spend around 20% of your working hours completing off-the-job training related to your apprenticeship.
The Early Intervention Practitioner is a work-based programme for people already in employment.
Your employer will need to give you time during your working hours each week for activities and learning related to your apprenticeship. This is called off-the-job training.
Thrive will work with schools and Trusts to ensure this time is spent on activities that both build the apprentice’s capabilities and benefit the organisation. For example, apprentices will be taught how to assess and respond to a child’s social and emotional needs using the Thrive Approach then tasked with applying this new knowledge to children in their setting and sharing their findings and recommendations with colleagues.
Off-the-job training can include:
The exact blend of activities will be agreed with the apprentice and employer at the start of the programme. 20% of your contracted hours need to be for off-the-job training.
During the Early Intervention Practitioner apprenticeship, you’ll learn how to help young people understand and manage their emotions, cope with stress, and take on life's ups and downs - leading to a positive impact on wellbeing, behaviour, school attendance and learning outcomes.
The apprenticeship will teach you how to provide practical advice and emotional support to children and young people with complex needs, or those experiencing specific barriers to learning. Plus, you’ll cover safeguarding, managing cases and referrals, and how to handle working relationships.
The apprenticeship will be split into 13 core modules:
Your final session will support you to prepare for your End-Point Assessment.
The apprenticeship is a Level 4 qualification, equivalent to a Higher National Certificate (HNC).
Successful candidates will qualify as an Early Intervention Practitioner and also as a Thrive Licensed Practitioner.
Don't worry about extra work—the Thrive Licensed Practitioner training is fully integrated into the apprenticeship programme.
The End-Point Assessment will be carried out by an external organisation. Your Apprenticeship Tutor will make sure that you are prepared for these assessments throughout your apprenticeship training. The EPA will consist of:
1. A professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.
2. A work-based case study with a written report and video recording of a meeting, plus questioning.
You'll receive a grade of fail, pass, or distinction for these assessments. If you receive a fail, there is an opportunity to resit.
To be eligible for the upcoming cohort, you must:
The Early Intervention Practitioner apprenticeship is valued at £3,500. If your setting pays into the Apprenticeship Levy, the training is free. If not, your organisation only needs to pay 5% of the cost, which is £175.
If your setting contributes to the Apprenticeship Levy fund employers can use their apprenticeship service account to access and manage fund contributions for apprenticeship training in England.
Apprenticeship Levy transfer:
If your setting has fewer than 50 employees:
Government incentive:
If you’re looking to qualify as an Early Intervention Practitioner and a Thrive Licensed Practitioner and you meet the eligibility criteria, you can start the application process by completing the form above.
A member of our team will get back in touch with you to progress your application.
As part of the application process, your employer will automatically be sent a declaration to complete.
If you’d like to train current staff members as Early Intervention Practitioners and Thrive Licensed Practitioners, please ask them to start by completing the form above. You'll automatically be sent a declaration to complete as part of the application process.