The Early Years Educator CACHE Level 3 Diploma

Course content

What will I study?

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:

• WF1 Introduction to the role of the early years educator
• WF2 Holistic Child Development
• WF3 Children with special education needs and disabilities
• WF4 Effective communication in an early years setting
• WF5 Safeguarding and welfare requirements
• WF6 Health, wellbeing and safety
• WF7 Promoting an effective early years curriculum
• WF8 Assessment of children’s learning and development
• WF9 Understanding play for learning and holistic development
• WF10 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.

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.

Next steps

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 (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 complete a Paediatric First Aid Course to be able to be counted in full adult: child ratios.

Any questions?

If you would like to find out more about this or other courses, please use our Livechat below, or contact info@bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk.