Diploma For Working in the Early Years Sector

About the Course

This two-year course prepares learners to become Early Years Educators, enabling them to work with children from birth to 5 years and gain knowledge of children aged 5-7 years. This qualification confers the license to practice as an Early Years Educator.

The qualification covers four areas:

• Health and wellbeing
• Legislation, frameworks and professional practice
• Play, development and learning for school readiness
• Professional development

You should expect to complete a minimum of 3 hours of homework per week in addition to class attendance.

Entry requirements

Students must be working in an Early Years setting and be 19 years of age or over. It may be possible to complete this course in voluntary placement.

Students who do not hold GCSE English at grade C/4 or Functional Skills Level 2 will be invited to sit an assessment to ensure that they have suitable skills for this qualification.

Whilst not a requirement for this course, please note that Early Years Educators are required to have Level 2 English qualifications to count in setting ratios. If you do not already have a relevant qualification, you can apply to study this with us.

Assessment

Assessment is via written work and practical observations. Work is submitted and assessed via an electronic portfolio, which demonstrates how you have met the assessment criteria for the course.

You should expect to complete at least 3 hours of homework per week in addition to class attendance.

Delivery

Learners will attend weekly lessons in college. This course may incorporate an element of live remote lessons where appropriate. It is recommended that students have access to a PC, laptop or other suitable device.

We provide a textbook for this course and it is included in the course fee.

Learners also benefit from access to the college library during our evening opening times, including computers, study stations, print-based and electronic learning materials, printers and scanners.

Progression

Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner or a Foundation Degree.

Practitioner in day nurseries/nursery schools, reception classes in Primary school/ pre-school worker.

How to apply

If you wish to apply, please click here or call or email us if you have any questions on 01403 216597 or adulted@collyers.ac.uk.

Induction

Students must attend a college induction on the first evening of the course.

Fees

A £150 deposit is required for this course payable at the point of booking.

This Level 3 course is part of the Free Courses for Jobs initiative and may be fully funded for learners if they:

• Unemployed, employed or self-employed and earn below £25,000 annual gross income

Alternatively, you may apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help cover the course fees. These loans are repayable when you finish your course and earn more than the threshold amount which is set by the government. Please see Advanced Learner Loan: Overview – GOV.UK  for more information.

Students who are not eligible for funding or a loan may choose to self-fund the course fees. The fee for this course is £3,200. Students can apply upon booking to pay the balance in three instalments.

Prior to enrolling on any qualification course, please consider carefully if you have the time to commit to this course.

If you start a course and do not complete it, or if your attendance rate is low, this might affect your eligibility to join funded courses in the future.

Our qualification courses are government funded and it is our responsibility to ensure that the funding is used effectively to help learners progress and develop. We will work with you to ensure that you achieve your personal goals and those of the course.

For further details see our Fees and Funding page.