Course Overview

If you are looking for a career in teaching, Early Years or any career working with children, this course is for you.

This exciting course focuses on childcare and education from 0 to 19, including child development, psychology and behaviours. You will specialise in Early Years as part of the course and gain a Level 3 Early Years Educator licence to practise on successful completion of the course.

This course is also perfectly placed for students progressing on to Primary Teaching Degrees or any degrees focused on working with children.

Topics include: Pedagogical approaches (teaching approaches), child development, attachment and behaviour, working with others, types of education provision, SEND, reflective practice, EAL, safeguarding, health and safety and wellbeing.

The first-year content is divided into themes including:

• Exploring the range and history of the educational sector, including current debates
• Child development, behaviour and English as an additional language
• Pedagogical (teaching) strategies and theories including psychology, sociology and physiosophical underpinnings
• Professional practice for education and childcare including safeguarding, health and safety and wellbeing of children and young people, equality and diversity, Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
• Working with others in education and early years.

Second year content extends and deepens learning on the above topics and includes more focus on the 0-5 age range and play-based approaches supporting you putting your knowledge into practice in the workplace.

This qualification includes a mixture of classroom learning and on-the-job experience during an industry placement of a minimum of 750 hours across the two years. You also have opportunities to extend your practical skills and experience through a range of enrichment and trip activities.

Assessment Methods

In both years, you will be assessed through written examinations, observations of your skills in placement, employer projects, group work and presentations.

Progression Options

On successful completion, you will achieve Early Years Educator (EYE) status which is required to work in early years settings. Therefore, you could find employment in an early years setting such as a nursery or primary education. Many of our students secure employment at their placement settings after they qualify. Alternatively, you could progress to study at Higher Education in any area related to teaching, education and early years including our Childhood Degree at UCS. Students successfully use the T Level to begin their progress onto degrees including: teaching, educational psychology, work-based primary teaching routes and wider degrees related to working with children.