Early Years Education Level 2

Learn how to support children's development, learning and wellbeing while gaining practical experience in professional early years settings.

You will explore how babies and young children develop and learn, how to create safe and supportive environments and how early years professionals work with children, families and other professionals. You will also develop your understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the professional responsibilities involved in caring for and educating young children.

You will explore:

• Child development and the Early Years Foundation Stage
• Supporting children's play, learning and development
• Communication and language development
• Promoting positive behaviour
• Safeguarding and child protection
• Health, safety and wellbeing
• Encouraging healthy lifestyles
• Working with parents and carers
• Working with other professionals
• Professional roles and responsibilities
• Reflective practice and developing your own skills

You will learn how early years professionals work as part of a wider team, including working with Early Years Educators, teachers, parents, carers and professionals such as health visitors, social workers and speech and language therapists.

Your classroom learning is supported by substantial practical experience. You will apply what you learn during placements in nursery and primary school settings, helping you understand how theory connects with everyday professional practice.

Alongside your early years knowledge, you will develop wider skills such as communication, teamwork, organisation, professionalism, problem solving and taking responsibility for your own work.

You will normally need:

• Five GCSEs at grade 3 or above, including English and Maths
• Or an appropriate Level 1 vocational qualification, together with equivalent English and Maths qualifications

If you have not yet achieved grade 4 in GCSE English and/or Maths, you will continue to study these alongside your Early Years programme.

If you have not yet achieved grade 4 in GCSE English and/or Maths, you will continue to study these alongside your Early Years programme.

A DBS check is required because work placement is a mandatory part of the programme. You will need to provide three acceptable forms of identification, including photo ID, at enrolment so that the appropriate checks can be completed.

You will also need to meet the suitability requirements for working with children in early years settings.

You will get the most from this programme if you:

• Have a genuine interest in working with babies and young children
• Are interested in how children learn and develop
• Are patient, caring and empathetic
• Enjoy communicating and working with other people
• Can behave professionally and responsibly
• Understand the importance of safeguarding and keeping children safe
• Are willing to work as part of a team
• Can listen to feedback and use it to improve
• Are willing to become more organised and independent in your learning
• Are prepared to combine classroom study with regular work placement

You do not need to arrive knowing everything about child development or early years education. A genuine interest in helping children learn and thrive, together with a willingness to learn and behave professionally, is more important.

NCFE CACHE Level 2 Technical Occupational Entry for the Early Years Practitioner (Diploma)

After successfully completing this programme, you will meet the Department for Education's Full and Relevant criteria for working as an Early Years Practitioner at Level 2.

You could progress directly into employment, continue your education or move into an apprenticeship to develop your skills further.

Possible next steps include:

• A Level 3 apprenticeship such as Early Years Educator
• Further study at Newbury College in a related subject such as Health and Social Care or Public Services
• Employment as an Early Years Practitioner
• Nursery assistant roles
• Classroom support roles
• Further training within early years or education

With further study and professional experience, you could progress towards more senior, specialist or management roles within early years settings.

The Early Years qualification is assessed through a combination of practical observation, professional discussion, written work and portfolio evidence.

Your practical skills will be assessed during your work placement, where you will demonstrate how you apply your knowledge when working with children in a professional setting.

You will also build a portfolio of evidence and take part in professional discussions with your assessor to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and professional practice.

Your tutors and assessors will provide feedback throughout the programme to help you develop your skills, reflect on your practice and build evidence of your achievement against the assessment criteria.

The qualification is graded Achieved or Not Achieved.

English and Maths, where studied alongside your programme, are assessed separately and may include exams.

You should expect to complete around 4 to 6 hours of independent study each week.

This may include:

• Researching child development and early years practice
• Completing written assignments
• Reviewing topics covered in College
• Preparing evidence for your portfolio
• Reflecting on your work placement experience
• Preparing for assessments and professional discussions
• Organising your coursework and meeting deadlines

You will need access to a computer and the internet to complete coursework and communicate with your tutors.

Your independent study will help you connect what you learn in College with your experience in placement. Your tutors will review your progress and provide feedback, but you will also be expected to become increasingly responsible for managing your workload and completing work on time.

Work placement is an essential part of this programme and gives you the opportunity to put your learning into practice with babies and young children.

You will complete at least 250 hours of work placement across nursery and primary school settings, working with children aged 0 to 7 years.

Your placement experience will include weekly day release and block placement weeks, giving you regular opportunities to develop your confidence and understand how professional early years settings operate.

During your placement, you will have opportunities to develop:

• Professional communication with children and adults
• Skills for supporting children's play, learning and development
• Safeguarding and safe working practices
• Teamwork with early years and education professionals
• Professional relationships with parents and carers
• Observation and reflective practice
• Organisation and responsibility
• An understanding of different early years and education settings

Your College assessor will visit you in placement to observe your practice, assess your progress and help you connect your classroom learning with your professional experience.

By the end of the programme, you will have substantial experience of working in real early years environments alongside the knowledge and skills needed to take your next step into employment or further training.

• All full-time students are asked to contribute £15 towards the College Subscription Fund
• You will need the required uniform for your programme and work placement
• You will need a suitable textbook and stationery
• Details and estimated costs will be provided before enrolment
• Optional trips, visits or extracurricular activities may have an additional cost, and you will be given information in advance