NCFE Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry for the Early Years Workforce (Diploma)

You will study:

This qualification aims to:

• focus on the study of early years education
• offer breadth and depth of study, incorporating a key core of knowledge
• provide opportunities to acquire a number of practical and technical skills

The objectives of this qualification are to:

• confirm occupational competence and/or ‘licence to practice’
• confirm competence in an occupational role to the standard required

Within this qualification, you will complete 10 mandatory units:

• L3WF1: Introduction to the role of the early years educator
• L3WF2: Holistic Child Development
• L3WF3: Children with special education needs and disabilities
• L3WF4: Effective communication in an early years setting
• L3WF5: Safeguarding and welfare requirements
•  L3WF6: Health, wellbeing and safety
• L3WF7: Promoting an effective early years curriculum
• L3WF8: Assessment of children’s learning and development
• L3WF9: Understanding play for learning and holistic development
• L3WF10: Partnership working

As you will see within units, you will gain knowledge and skills of holistic child development, how to support play and learning in suitable environments, safeguarding and well-being or children, childhood development theorists and how these are used in practice, observation and assessments, knowledge of the current requirements within Early Years, promoting play in all areas including healthy eating and exercise and the role of an effective key person.

All Learners will need to undertake observations and assessments and will therefore, needs to be in a position in their placement to observe children.

Learners will need to be working, volunteering on practical placement in an early years/childcare setting to show competence in both knowledge and skills. Placement opportunity must allow for skills application with babies and/or young children. It is recommended that 350 hours placement are completed.

Next steps

Upon achievement of this qualification learners will gain their licence to practise and it is intended that learners will be able to enter the workforce as Early Years Educators. Learners who achieve a full and relevant level 3 or above qualification will need to hold a suitable level 2 English qualification in order to count within the adult: child ratios at level 3. In addition, from January 2024, a manager or a learner that starts in a manager role will also need to hold a suitable level 2 maths qualification.

Course progression:

Learners can progress to the Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner or other higher-level early years qualification such as NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner HTQ (610/4163/4)

Career progressions:

Upon achievement of this qualification learners will gain their licence to practise and 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:

• Educator/Practitioner in day nurseries
• Educator/Practitioner in nursery schools
• Educator/Practitioner in reception classes in primary schools
• Pre-school worker

Learners who achieve a full and relevant level 3 or above qualification after 1 January 2024 will need to hold a suitable level 2 English qualification in order to count within the adult: child ratios at level 3. In addition, from January 2024, a manager or a learner that starts in a manager role will also need to hold a suitable level 2 maths qualification.

Additional information

It is highly recommended that you purchase the qualification text book.

At an additional cost, all learners must complete a Paediatric First Aid Course to be able to be counted in full adult: child ratios.