Are you passionate about shaping the future of young children? Our Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) is your gateway to a rewarding career in early childhood education. This comprehensive qualification equips you with the essential skills and knowledge needed to thrive as an early years educator.
Delivered through flexible remote learning via Teams, this part-time program allows you to balance your current work commitments with your studies. You'll engage in interactive sessions, build an electronic portfolio, and receive personalised assessments through work-based evaluations and visits from your assessor.
Our curriculum is designed to ensure you develop a deep understanding of early years education, encompassing key areas such as holistic child development, effective communication, safeguarding, health and safety, and promoting a dynamic early years curriculum. Additionally, you’ll gain expertise in working with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and learn the intricacies of partnership working.
Join our vibrant community of learners and benefit from our strong industry links with leading early years providers in Northumberland. This employer-led curriculum ensures you graduate with the skills and behaviours that are highly valued in the workforce. Enrol today and take the next step towards making a meaningful impact on the lives of young children.
You will need to be currently employed in an early years setting for a minimum of 10 hours per week as well as hold GCSE or Functional Skills in Maths and English at grade 4/C or level 2.
| Study level | Cost | Additional fees |
|---|---|---|
| 19+ | Please enquire | Course book available to purchase. Access to a smartphone and/or computer |
Remote learning – via Teams.
Work-based assessments and visits by your assessor.
Electronic portfolio building (via teams)
The requirement for Level 3 Early Years Educators (EYE) to hold GCSE or Functional Skills in Mathematics at Level 2 has been removed from ratio requirements in the Early Years Workforce. Learners will still need to hold a suitable level 2 English qualification in order to count within the staff:child ratios at level 3. In addition, from January 2024, a manager or a learner that starts in a manager role will also need to hold a suitable level 2 Maths qualification. International qualifications can be checked in liaison with the DfE.
Must be currently working in the Early years sector for a minimum of 10 hours per week.
We work with a range of early years providers in Northumberland and deliver an employer-led curriculum to ensure that students leave with the best possible skills and behaviours to enrich the Early years workforce in our region.
Upon achievement of this qualification you will be counted in the staff:child ratios at level 3.
This qualification aims to:
• focus on the study of early years education
• offer breadth and depth of study, incorporating a key core of knowledge
• provide opportunities to acquire a number of practical and technical skills
The objectives of this qualification are to:
• confirm occupational competence and/or ‘licence to practice’
• confirm competence in an occupational role to the standard required in response to the Department for Education
Introduction to the role of the early years educator
Holistic child development
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Effective communication in an early years setting
Safeguarding and welfare requirements
Health, wellbeing and safety
Promoting an effective early years curriculum
Assessment of children’s learning and development
Understanding play for holistic development and learning Partnership working
Learners who achieve this qualification could progress to the following:
• employment:
o educator in day nurseries
o educator in nursery schools
o educator in reception classes in primary schools
o pre-school worker
• further education:
o NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner
• higher education – personal statements may be accepted by universities
Find out everything you need to know about Northumberland College and our exciting range of courses!
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We are the largest further education provider in Northumberland with campuses throughout the county.
Our student transport scheme is available for eligible students to make getting to and from college as easy as possible.
Our extensive re-development programme will create outstanding new facilities.
