Level 3 Diploma for The Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator)
This OFSTED-recognised qualification, Level 3 Diploma for The Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator), 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 to 7 years.
Upon achievement of this qualification, it is intended that learners will be able to enter the workforce as Early Years Educators.
With fully qualified sector status, this qualification will enable you to gain a licence and right to practice as an Early Years Educator in a wide range of care settings.
Aims of the course
These are to:
- Earn Early Years Practitioner status when you complete the course
- Gain knowledge, understanding and skills to support healthy lifestyles for children and promote children’s emotional well-being
- Gain knowledge and understanding required to support the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children
- Enable learners to understand the value of play in Early Years in preparation for practical experience.
- Develop skills that will enable learners to plan, lead and review purposeful play opportunities that support children’s learning and development.
- Gain knowledge, understanding and skills required to support children with additional needs
- Develop employability skills
Structure
The units for this programme have been selected to offer learners the best opportunities for progression both academically and professionally. In order to achieve the Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) learners must gain a total of 61 credits. To do this, they must achieve all 23 mandatory units.
The units are structured around three themes:
Theme 1: Health and Well-being
Unit 1.1 Support healthy lifestyles for children through the provision of food and nutrition
Unit 1.2 WB: Support healthy lifestyles for children through exercise
Unit 1.3 WB: Support physical care routines for children
Unit 1.4 WB: Promote children’s emotional well-being
Unit 1.5 Understand how to support children who are unwell
Theme 2: Legislation, Frameworks and Professional Practice
Unit 2.2 Understand legislation relating to the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children
Unit 2.3 WB: Use legislation relating to the health and safety of children
Unit 2.4 WB: Follow legislation relating to equality, diversity and inclusive practice
Unit 2.5 WB: Working in partnership
Unit 4.1 Engage in professional development
Theme 3: Play, Development and Learning for School Readiness
Unit 3.1 Understand the value of play in Early Years
Unit 3.2 WB: Plan, lead and review play opportunities which support children’s learning and development
Unit 3.4 WB: Promote enabling play environments
Unit 3.5 WB: Developing children’s emergent literacy skills
Unit 3.6 WB: Developing children’s emergent mathematical skills
Unit 3.7 WB: Support children’s transition to school
Unit 3.9 WB: Develop children’s cognitive skills
Unit 3.10 WB: Promote children’s speech, language and communication
Unit 3.11 WB: Promoting children’s physical development
Unit 3.12 WB: Promoting children’s personal, social and emotional development
Unit 3.13 Support children with additional needs
Unit 3.14 Use observation, assessment and planning to promote the development of children
Unit 3.15 Use longitudinal studies to observe, assess and plan for children’s needs
Experience in the Workplace
Learners will need to be working, volunteering or on a practical placement, as an important part of the assessment process involves evaluating skills in real working situations. We recommend 350 hours across the age ranges.
How the course is delivered
This Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) is delivered via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which provides access to case studies, learning materials and activities, presentations and web links. Online tutor support and guidance is provided throughout the course, where learners can interact with the tutors, get feedback on their progress and submit their work electronically. This helps you to build the relevant skills progressively, as you receive feedback and support from your tutor during this time. As the course is delivered online, this enables learners to study any time, any place through immediate access to VLE.
Assessment
All units will be internally assessed using a range of methods. This could include direct observation within the workplace, a portfolio of evidence and written assignments.
To gain this qualification, the learner will need to achieve the following:
Pass in all units
All units in this qualification are mandatory and will be internally assessed.
Longitudinal Study UCAS
This will be a mandatory task set by us. It will be internally assessed.
Competence in a real work environment
Full achievement of the qualification will not be possible until all components are complete
Opportunities for progression
Learners who achieve this qualification could progress to Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner or other higher level early years qualifications.
Job roles you can apply for on completion
- Practitioner in day nurseries
- Practitioner in Nursery schools
- Practitioner in reception classes in primary schools
- Pre-school worker
- Private nanny or childminder
Entry requirements
- Learners must be aged 16 or above
- An appropriate level of skill in the English language. International learners will be required to have ILETS 5.5 or equivalent.
