Care & Early Years - Supporting Teaching and Learning 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.

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 and up to 420 UCAS points

The salary you could expect to earn working in childcare is from around £8 per hour for a childcare assistant in a day nursery up to an average annual salary of £26,000 for a primary school teacher.

What you will study

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

• Communication and professional relationships
• Schools as organisations
• Support learning activities
• Promoting positive behaviour
• Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion
• Health and safety
• Understanding development
• Safeguarding

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 student’s work will be assessed through assignments and two externally marked, controlled assessments.

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

Entry Level 3
3 GCSE grade 2-1 or below in English and maths

Level 1
3 GCSEs at 9-1

Level 2
4 GCSEs 9-3
OR
Successful completion of relevant Level 1 at merit grade plus English and maths grade 9-3

Level 3 (Childcare and Education)
5 GCSEs at 9-4 including English and Maths
OR
Successful completion of relevant Level 2 at merit grade plus English and maths at grade 9-4

Level 3 (Supporting Teaching and Learning)
5 GCSE’s grade 9-4 including either English or maths
OR
Successful completion of relevant Level 2 at merit grade plus English or maths at grade 9-4

Career Opportunities

The Early Years Educator Diploma qualification gives you licence to practice in a supervisory capacity in a range of settings including nurseries, schools, day nurseries, family centres, private families and hospitals.

Potential job roles include: Early Years Educator within education or care, children's nanny, child minder, children's
representative abroad or on cruise ships.

Please note if you are considering a career in primary teaching, most universities require GCSE at grade 4 or above in Maths and English, plus Science at grade 4 or above.

Further Study

If you complete the course with an appropriate pass grade with maths and English 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.