Early Years Education Level 2

You will learn to work as part of a professional team under the guidance of an Early Years Educator, teacher, or other suitably qualified professional. You will also interact with parents, carers, colleagues, and multi-agency professionals such as health visitors, social workers, and speech and language therapists

Key areas of study include:

• Understanding child development and the EYFS
• Promoting positive behaviour in early years settings
• Safeguarding and child protection
• Supporting communication and language development
• Encouraging healthy lifestyles and wellbeing
• Working in partnership with families and professionals
• Supporting play, learning, and development
• Developing professional skills and reflective practice

Throughout the course, you will apply theory directly in real working environments, supported by expert assessors and mentors. This balance of practical and academic learning ensures you are fully prepared for professional employment or further study.

Students will be accepted onto the course if they are aged 16-19 years old and have a vocationally relevant Level one Diploma or a minimum of 5 GCSE's at grade 3 including English and Maths or equivalent. We offer and Introduction to Health, Social Care and Child Care if you haven't yet attained your 3 in English and Mathematics (you can find this in Health, Social and Public Services area on the website). If you have not yet attained a GCSE grade 4 in English and Mathematics you will be supported to study these alongside your Early Years programme. A DBS check is required as part of this course to enable students to do the mandatory work placement in Early Years and Educational settings. Three forms of ID (including photo ID) for this needs to be presented to tutors at enrolment (Please see the government guidance on DBS ID for more details).

Having a genuine love for teaching babies and young children is essential. Patience, empathy, and a desire to see children learn and thrive will help you make the most of this programme. A keen interest in learning about the Early Years educational landscape and safe environments for children is also important. This is a demanding course combining theoretical learning and professional practice therefore you will need to be a good communicator and have excellent organisational skills.

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

After successfully completing this programme, you will be qualified under the Department for Education's 'Full and Relevant' criteria to work as an Early Years Practitioner. You may choose to progress to:

• Further study at Newbury College
• A Level 3 apprenticeship, such as Early Years Educator
• Specialist or management roles within early years settings
• Careers including Nursery Assistant, Early Years Practitioner, or Classroom Support Worker

You will complete a range of assessments to demonstrate your competence and understanding:

• Observation of practical skills in placement
• Professional discussion with your assessor
• Portfolio of written and practical evidence
• Internal unit assessment

The qualification is graded as Achieved or Not Achieved.

You will need to complete 46 hours of independent study each week, including research, written assignments, and preparation for practical assessments. Access to a computer and the internet is required for completing coursework and communication with tutors.

You will complete at least 250 hours of work placement across nursery and primary school settings with children aged 07 years. Placement includes weekly day release and block weeks, allowing you to apply your classroom learning in a real-world context. Your college assessor will visit to observe and assess your progress

You will need to budget for a uniform, textbook, and stationery. Estimated costs will be advised before enrolment. There is also a £15 College Subscription Fund contribution for all students. Extracurricular activities and trips may incur additional costs.