CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator) QCF Course

Live in the UK? Aged 24 or more? You could apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan for this course. The Government has introduced 24+ Advanced Learning Loans to help learners, aged 24 and over, in further education pay the college or training organisation fee. Getting a Loan doesn’t depend on your household income and there’s no credit check. You won’t have to pay anything back until you’re earning over £21,000 a year. Once you earn over this amount you pay back 9% of the earnings you receive above this figure.

The new CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) qualification (QRN: 601/2629/2) has been approved by the National College of Teaching and Leadership. It has been introduced to entirely replace the current Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (QCF) from September 2014.

This qualification sets the standards that all early years practitioners must meet to ensure that they are able to support and promote children?s early education and that children develop correctly taking care to see that they are kept safe and healthy. The course promotes teaching and learning to make sure that children have the skills they need to start school with a broad range of knowledge.

The CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) training course and subsequent qualification will enable you to enjoy a childcare work in partnership with colleagues, parents/carers or other professionals.

What is an Early Years Practitioner (EYP)?

From September 2014 anybody who wishes to work as a fully qualified Early Years Practitioner will be required to complete this Early Years Educator course. It will be the only level 3 vocational qualification that will allow you to fully engage in childcare.

Early Years Practitioners will work in various settings to care for babies and children aged from birth to five years old and have an understanding of children aged 5 - 7 years. It will be the role of the Early Years Educator to help the children learn, develop and prepare for school. The EYP may support Early Years teachers or indeed may deliver the childcare and teaching themselves.

Am I required to do a placement?

In order to achieve your CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) qualification you will be required to do a minimum of 350 hours in a suitable placement.

In order to get the most out of your placement, we strongly advise that placements should be done in at least 2 different settings to cover the following age ranges:

Age range Hours
0 - 1 year 11 months (working with babies) 25
2 - 2 years 11 months (working with toddlers) 133
3 - 5 years (working with pre-school children) 192

If you have a placement in a setting which provides care and education for children and allows you to get the required experience across these three age ranges then you do not need to do a placement outside of this one setting.

What about the theory aspect of the training?

Our course is designed to be as flexible as possible and allows you to fit it in with your existing commitments. Unlike a traditional college (where you are required to attend lessons at set times) you will be able to study the theory element in your own time and in the privacy of your own home either online or via printed material through the post. Also your tutor will come out to visit you 3 times in your work setting. This will give you the opportunity to work with your tutor face to face which is a real benefit for anybody considering studying this home study course.

Please note: This course is textbook based, and therefore the lessons are not available to be viewed online. If you choose the online method of study with this course, you will be able to view your question papers and tutor feedback online.

How can I progress further with my studies?

On completion of your CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) qualification, which carries between 120 and 360 UCAS points and has been assigned 61 credits on the QCF framework (QRN: 601/2629/2), you will be able to progress onto a foundation degree/higher education.

The Early Years Educator Qualification is structured around four themes:

Theme 1: Health and well-being

• Unit 1.1 (L/505/9300) Support healthy lifestyles for children through the provision of food and nutrition
• Unit 1.2 WB (A/505/9809) Promote healthy lifestyles for children through exercise
• Unit 1.3 WB (M/505/9810) Support physical care routines for children
• Unit 1.4 WB (T/505/9811) Promote children's emotional well-being
• Unit 1.5 (A/505/9812) Understand how to support children who are unwell

Theme 2: Legislation, frameworks and professional practice

• Unit 2.2 (F/505/9813) Understand legislation relating to the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children
• Unit 2.3 WB (J/505/9814) Follow legislation relating to the health and safety of children
• Unit 2.4 WB (L/505/9815) Follow legislation relating to equality, diversity and inclusive practice
• Unit 2.5 WB (R/505/9816) Working in partnership

Theme 3: Play, development and learning for school readiness

• Unit 3.1 (Y/505/9817) Understand the value of play in early years
• Unit 3.2 WB (D/505/9818) Plan, lead and review play opportunities which support children's learning and development
• Unit 3.4 WB (H/505/9819) Promote enabling play environments
• Unit 3.5 WB (Y/505/9820) Developing children's emergent literacy skills
• Unit 3.6 WB (D/505/9821) Developing children's emergent mathematical skills
• Unit 3.7 WB (H/505/9822) Support children's transition to school
• Unit 3.9 WB (K/505/9823) Develop children's cognitive skills
• Unit 3.10 WB (M/505/9824) Promote children's speech, language and communication
• Unit 3.11 WB (A/505/9826) Promoting children's physical development
• Unit 3.12 WB (T/505/9825) Promoting children's personal, social and emotional development
• Unit 3.13 (F/505/9827) Support children with additional needs
• Unit 3.14 (J/505/9828) Use observation, assessment and planning to promote the development of children
• Unit 3.15 (L/505/9829) Use longitudinal studies to observe, assess and plan for children's needs

Theme 4: Professional development

• Unit 4.1 (F/505/9830) Engage in professional development

How long will the course take to complete?

The course has been assigned approximately 486 guided learning hours. You should reasonably expect the course to take you 18-24 months to complete, although the course can be completed faster if you are able to dedicate more time to your studies, there is no time limit set for this or any other of our courses.

Once you have your Early Years Educator qualification you will have a full authorisation to practise as an Early Years Educator. You will be able to work in the statutory, voluntary or private sectors doing things like:

• Nursery Nurse
• Nursery Practitioner
• Early Years Practitioner
• Day Nursery Practitioner
• Pre School Practitioner
• Nursery Teacher
• Early Years Teacher
• Reception Class Teacher
• Pre-School Assistant
• Nursery Worker
• Home based child carer
• Nanny
• Child-minder

"Qualified and experienced nursery workers can earn between £15,000 and £22,000, depending on responsibilities." - Source: National Careers Service

As detailed in the course description you need to have a placement(s) of 350 hours in a suitable child care setting. This can be full or part time, paid or unpaid.

GCSE English and Maths at grade C or above are required before your Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce qualification can be counted in any employer's setting ratio numbers at level 3.

If you are aged 24+ years and applying for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan, you will need to have GCSE English and Maths at grade C or above.

Please note: We offer GCSE courses you can study alongside your qualification if you haven't achieved the required grade

Once you have your Early Years Educator qualification you will have a full authorisation to practise as an Early Years Educator. You will be able to work in the statutory, voluntary or private sectors doing many Early Years Educator roles.

"Qualified and experienced nursery workers can earn between £15,000 and £22,000, depending on responsibilities." - Source: National Careers Service