Cambridge International Certificate Early Years Good Practice 5889 - For examination in 2025-2030 - Version 3.1

Oct 23, 2026

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Cambridge International Certificate Early Years Good Practice 5889 syllabus (Version 3.1) sets out requirements for the Cambridge Professional Development Qualification for examinations in 2025 to 2030. It explains why the PDQ supports critical engagement with global concepts, reflective practice, formative evaluation, and collaboration. The document outlines aims for inclusive early-years teaching, opportunities to try new approaches, and career progression. It also summarizes research-backed characteristics of effective professional development and provides guidance, eligibility, language requirements, structure, assessment, evidence expectations, and reflective journal requirements.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages30

Reading Time1 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

Why choose Cambridge?

1 Introduction

Purpose of this document

Quality

2 The Cambridge teacher

Cambridge Standards for Early Years Practitioners

How to use the Standards

3 Syllabus Overview

The PDQ Programme Leader

The Certificate Syllabus

Eligibility

Language requirements

What is the qualification structure?

What does the Certificate involve?

How is the Certificate assessed?

Evidence requirements

Reflective journal

4 Certificate in Early Years Good Practice

Introduction to the Certificate

Module 1 Exploring child development, learning and teaching in the Early Years

Unit 1 Understanding child development

Unit 2 Teaching in an effective early years learning environment

Unit 3 Facilitating active learning in the early years

Assessment criteria

5 Support and resources for PDQ programmes

What is PDQ Connect?

6 Glossary

| Cambridge Professional Development | | --- | | Cambridge International Certificate | Syllabus Cambridge International Certificate Early Years Good Practice 5889 For examination in 2025 to 2030 Version 3.1 Why choose Cambridge? Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications (PDQs) provide a strong framework to support the effective continuing professional development of candidates. They help candidates to: • engage critically with relevant concepts, principles, theories and best practices from around the world • apply new ideas and approaches in reflective practice in their own teaching and learning context • formatively evaluate experiences to plan further development • transform the quality of teaching and school leadership to improve the outcomes of learners. Cambridge PDQs are designed to be integrated into schools’ professional development planning, activities and culture. They help schools to improve through cost-effective, sustainable programmes that benefit teachers and their learners. They demonstrate to parents, the school community and stakeholders that the school values and nurtures staff development. The Cambridge International Certificate in Early Years Good Practice is for candidates who want to: • engage with the principles and concepts of teaching and learning in early years to improve their effectiveness as practitioners • gain the knowledge, skills and understanding to support an inclusive approach to teaching and learning in early years • use opportunities to try something new in their setting • engage with colleagues to improve professional knowledge and practice • develop a reflective approach to the development of their professional practice • progress their teaching career. Research indicates that effective teacher professional development: • is integrated into the everyday life of the setting and the practitioner • considers practitioners’ prior knowledge and experience • offers opportunities for reflection and learning from experience • encourages and supports innovation and collaboration • helps practitioners to develop their existing knowledge, skills and understanding of teaching and learning • enriches practitioners’ learning through critical engagement with the theories of others • is sustained over time and supported by people with expertise. The Certificate is designed to provide for such professional development. School feedback: ‘Over the three years we have run the PDQ, we have seen how the programme has been a catalyst for exciting conversations about Teaching and Learning across the school. The PDQ candidates are envoys in their departments for the reflective and rigorous approach that we want to see in all staff, and that collaboration at department level has allowed the benefits of the PDQ to blossom beyond those who have participated in the course. By engaging with educational research and theories, and embedding these in their practice, the PDQ candidates have been role models to their departmental colleagues. In particular, the highquality evidence-based research in the diploma programme has challenged teachers across the school to be bold and ambitious as they reflect on their own practice, striving for excellence.’ Feedback from: Bianca Wright, PDQ Programme Leader, Head of Teaching and Learning, Hebron School, Tamil Nadu, South India © Cambridge University Press & Assessment January 2022 Cambridge International Education is the name of our awarding body and a part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, which is a department of the University of Cambridge. Cambridge University Press & Assessment retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered centres are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use. However, we cannot give permission to centres to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within a centre. Contents Why choose Camb

FAQs

What is the Certificate in Early Years Good Practice 5889 designed to achieve?

It is designed to support candidates’ engagement with early-years teaching and learning principles, inclusive approaches, and reflective professional development. It also provides opportunities to try new approaches and progress teaching careers.

How does Cambridge PDQ link professional development to effective practice?

The syllabus highlights professional development that is integrated into daily practice, considers prior experience, supports reflection and learning from experience, and encourages innovation and collaboration over time.

What assessment and evidence requirements are included in the syllabus?

The syllabus overview includes guidance on how the Certificate is assessed, evidence requirements, and the role of a reflective journal as part of the qualification process.

Oct 23, 2026

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