Level 3 in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator)

You will need GSCEs at grade 4/5 or above including English and Maths or appropriate equivalent level 2 qualifications with the capacity to achieve English and Maths GCSE grade 4/5 during your time on the course.

All applicants must undertake an interview and apply for DBS clearance to demonstrate that they do not have a criminal background which might prevent them from working with children.

The course runs for 3 days per week knowledge based in college and two days placement days to develop your competency skills, you require 750 hours at the end of the two year study bundle. The course is over 2 years - year 1 is the certificate level and year 2 the diploma level.

Synoptic assessment enables you to show your ability to integrate and apply your knowledge, understanding and skills with breadth and depth. It also requires you to demonstrate your capability to apply your knowledge, understanding and skills across a range of units and learning outcomes for which you are being assessed.

For the Technical Level 3 Diploma there will be TWO externally set and externally assessed synoptic assessments, one assessment covering the contents of units 1–7 and one assessment covering units 9–14).

English and Maths are important life skills that will help you to achieve your best in your studies and progress to your dream career. If you have not already achieved grade 9-4 in GCSE Maths and/ or English at school, we will support you to improve your skills.

Work placement is 750 hours and is mandatory for the completion of the course.

When working in partnership with employers, decisions relating to students competence must be made by qualified, occupationally competent assessors.

During placement, students will need supportfrom a professional within the real work environment.

The course runs for 3 days per week over 2 years as well as two days of placement per week up to 750 hours over the duration of the course.

The course prepares students for the Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator). It provides students with knowledge with children from birth to 7 years and practical experience working with children from birth to 5 years.

You will study a range of units including:

Play and Learning, Child development, Observation, Assessment and Planning, Child Health, Additional Needs, Providing safe environments for children, Children s health and wellbeing with children from 0-7 years.

Units are assessed internally and marked by your Tutor. You must achieve a D grade/Pass grade to be awarded the unit.

- Unit assessments for units 1–14 must be achieved at pass grade D or above.
- The unit assessment for Unit 16 must be gained at an ‘Achieved’ grade.

You will be required to have 95% plus attendance during the course, this supports your knowledge and understanding of unit contents and your applications for Employers and Higher Education progression on course completion.