Care & Early Years - Childcare & Early Years Education Level 3 Study Programme

This study programme is designed to give you the knowledge and skills needed to support the care and education of babies and young children in a day nursery or school.

The programme is aimed at learners who are thinking of working in childcare either in a nursery or a school or who are aiming to progress into higher education to complete an early years or primary education degree.

When studying at levels 2 and 3 you will be in college for part of the week and on placement in a nursery or primary school for one or two days each week. At level 1 you will be in college between 3 and 4 days with organised visits to settings.

The programme will help you to understand your own personal and social development, including how to behave professionally. It is very important that learners are able to manage their own behaviour and follow the college rules, as young children learn how to behave from the people around them, so we must be positive role models when working with children.

Successful completion of level 3 Childcare and Education gives licence to practice in an early years setting and up to 168 UCAS points

Future Career and Earning Potentials:

Nursey Worker £14K-£24K

Nursey Manager £23K-£32K

Playworker £12K-£30K

Teaching Assistant £11K-£23K

Early Years Teacher £25K-£36K

(Source: National Careers Service)

Please Note: Work placement opportunities will be available at all Levels

This study programme will cover a range of the topics and units at each level, some of which are listed below:

Level 1

• Sharing learning experiences with children

• Health and safety with young children

• Understanding learning and development through play

• Growth and development of young children

• Safeguarding children and young people

Level 2 -

• Supporting children's play

• Healthy lifestyles for children

• Observation, Assessment and Planning

• Young children’s development.

• The importance of play for children

Level 3

• Children's health and wellbeing

• Development (conception to age 7 years)

• Working professionally with young children

• Supporting children with additional needs

• Emergent maths and Emergent literacy

• International perspectives

You will be assessed to make sure you understand what you have been taught, through completing workbooks, writing essays, producing leaflets, answering questions or through presentation and practical tasks in the classroom. You will be set between 4- and 8-hours homework each week, depending on the level of course.

Level 3 work will be assessed through assignments, presentations, posters, leaflets and two externally marked, controlled assessments. The course includes a mandatory placement in year 1 and year 2 of the course. Whilst in placement observations will be carried out by the workplace assessor.

To be accepted onto a childcare course you will require a good reference from your previous school showing a positive attitude and good attendance.

Level 1

3 GCSEs 9-1

Level 2

4 GCSEs 9-3 OR Successful completion of relevant Level 1 plus English and maths at grade 9-3

Level 3 (Childcare and Education)

5 GCSEs 9-4 including English and maths

OR

Successful completion of relevant Level 2 plus English and maths at grade 9-4

If you have achieved a Level 5 or above in Maths, English and Science along with 2 other GCSEs you may be eligible for the T-level in Education and Childcare https://www.wakefield.ac.uk/study-with-us/school-leavers/t-levels

On successful completion and with the required English and maths grades you can progress through the levels.

After successful completion Level 3 students have progressed on to a Degree or Foundation Degree course in a related subject such as primary education, qualified teacher status, (early years or primary school

teaching) play worker or family services related degrees.

Wakefield College offers a Foundation Degree in Young Children’s Learning and Development and a BA in Early Years.