Level 3 Early Years Educator
Course Overview: Highly trained professionals who play a key role in ensuring that young children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe
Early Years Educators
Early Years Educator is designed for “highly-trained professionals” working with children to ensure they are safe and healthy and develop learning skills in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage as set by Government for the learning, development, and care of children from birth to 5 years old. Job roles may include Nursery Nurse, Nursery Practitioner, Nursery Assistant, and Childminder, working in a range of settings for example nurseries, day nurseries, pre-schools, children’s centres, reception classes, and childminder premises.
Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator)
An Early Years Educator:
- Plans and supervises child initiated and adult led activities which are based around the needs and interests of each individual child
- Supports children to develop numeracy and language skills through games and play
- Has key person responsibility to help ensure each child feels safe and secure
- Observes each child and shapes their learning experience to reflect their observations
- Meets the care needs of the individual child such as feeding, changing nappies and administration of medicine
- Works in partnership with other colleagues, parents and/or carers or other professionals to meet the individual needs of each child
Duration
Commercial Route (Highfield): 12 months
Advanced Learner Loan Route (NCFE CACHE): 15 months
Price
Commercial Route (Highfield): £4200 or interest-free instalments of £350 a month over 12 months
Advanced Learner Loan Route (NCFE CACHE): £4170 over 15 months
Entry Requirements
Learners should be at least 16 years old and should have the ability to manage the requirements of the level of the qualification; candidates will be required to undertake the Initial Assessments before confirmation of place on course.
Course Content
To complete the Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators, learners must complete the following:
- All units contained within the mandatory group, totaling 64 credits.
- Learners may choose to undertake optional units if required for their job role.
Mandatory group: Learners must achieve all units in this group.
- Understand Children’s Holistic Development for Early Years Educators
- Understand and Apply Theories of Child Development and Attachment for Early Years
- Promote Equality of Opportunity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Discriminatory Practice in Early Years Education
- Support Positive Behaviour and Teach Children to Understand their Emotions in Early Years Education
- Curriculum and Pedagogy
- Understand the Different Types of Assessments to Support the Learning and Development of Children and how to use Assessments to Plan Further Support to Enable Children to Progress
- Promote Language, Speech and Communication Development in Early Years
- Support Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Early Years Education
- Principles of Safeguarding and Protecting Babies and Young Children for Early Years Educators
- Health, Safety and Security of Babies and Young Children for Early Years Educators
- Promote the Health and Wellbeing of Babies and Children in Early Years Education
- Partnership Working to Support Children’s Development for Early Years Educators
- Understanding the Role, Responsibilities and Expected Behaviours of the Practitioners and Others Within the Setting
- Continuing Professional Development for Early Years Educators
Optional group A: Learners may achieve a maximum of 4 credits from this group.
- Promoting Outdoor Play in Early Years Education
- Support Children and Families at Risk of Deprivation
Guided Learning Hours
Commercial Route (Highfield): 379
Advanced Learner Loan Route (NCFE CACHE): 864
Progression Opportunities
Upon achievement of this qualification it is intended that learners will be able to enter the workforce as Early Years Educators.
Learners can progress into various job roles in the statutory, voluntary or private sectors such as:
- Practitioner in day nurseries
- Practitioner in nursery schools
- Practitioner in reception classes in primary schools
- Pre-school worker
- Home based child carer