Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) CACHE Level 3 (QCF)

The new CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) qualification (QRN: 601/2629/2) (verify) 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 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

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Understand the impact of food and nutrition on children’s health and development.
• Understand how food choices impact on health and development during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Understand the nutritional needs of children.
• Understand the impact of poor diet on children’s health and development.
• Understand individuals’ dietary requirements and preferences.
• Be able to support healthy eating in own setting.

Unit 1.2 WB (A/505/9809) Promote healthy lifestyles for children through exercise

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Understand children’s need for exercise.
• Be able to support children’s exercise in an indoor and outdoor space

Unit 1.3 WB (M/505/9810) Support physical care routines for children

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Understand the physical care needs of children.
• Be able to use hygienic practice to minimise the spread of infection.
• Understand rest and sleep needs of children.
• Understand childhood immunisation.
• Be able to support children in personal physical care routines.

Unit 1.4 WB (T/505/9811) Promote children’s emotional well-being

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Understand children’s needs in relation to emotional well-being.
• Understand the requirements for promoting emotional well-being in relation to current frameworks.
• Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events.
• Be able to promote the emotional well-being of children in own setting.

Unit 1.5 (A/505/9812) Understand how to support children who are unwell

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Know common childhood illnesses.
• Know the signs of ill health in children.
• Understand legal requirements for reporting notifiable diseases.
• Understand the role of the early years practitioner in minimising ill health in children.
• Understand care routines when a child is ill.
• Understand how to support children for planned hospital admission.
• Understand the therapeutic role of play in hospitals.
• Understand the role of the early years practitioner when supporting children who are chronically ill.

Theme 2: Legislation, frameworks and professional practice

Unit 2.2 (F/505/9813) Understand legislation relating to the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Understand legislation and guidelines for the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children.
• Understand policies and procedures for the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children.
• Understand how to respond to evidence or concerns that a child has been abused or harmed.
• Understand the purpose of serious case reviews.

Unit 2.3 WB (J/505/9814) Follow legislation relating to the health and safety of children

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Understand legislation and guidelines for health and safety.
• Understand policies and procedures for health and safety.
• Be able to manage risk within an environment which provides challenge for children.
• Be able to identify, record and report accidents, incidents and emergencies.

Unit 2.4 WB (L/505/9815) Follow legislation relating to equality, diversity and inclusive practice

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Understand how legislation, policies and procedures inform equality, diversity and inclusive practice.
• Be able to use information, advice and support to promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Be able to work in ways which support equality, diversity and inclusive practice.

Unit 2.5 WB (R/505/9816) Working in partnership

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Understand the principles of partnership working in relation to current frameworks when working with children.
• Understand how to work in partnership.
• Understand challenges to partnership working.
• Be able to work with parents/carers in a way which encourages them to take an active role in their child’s play, learning and development.
• Be able to complete records.

Theme 3: Play, development and learning for school readiness

Unit 3.1 (Y/505/9817) Understand the value of play in early years

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Understand the role of play.
• Understand children’s rights in relation to play.
• Understand play at different stages of children’s development.
• Understand different types of play for all children.
• Understand inclusive play practice.

Unit 3.2 WB (D/505/9818) Plan, lead and review play opportunities which support children’s learning and development

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Understand theoretical perspectives and philosophical approaches which support play.
• Be able to apply theoretical perspectives and philosophical approaches in planning play opportunities.
• Be able to lead and support play opportunities.
• Be able to review how planned play opportunities contribute to own practice.

Unit 3.4 WB (H/505/9819) Promote enabling play environments

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

• Understand the play environment.
• Understand how the early years practitioner supports children’s behaviour and socialisation within play environments.
• Be able to support children’s behaviour and socialisation within play environments.
• Understand how the characteristics of an enabling indoor and outdoor play environment meet the age, stage and needs of children.
• Be able to provide enabling play environments.
• Be able to plan and lead opportunities which support children’s understanding of the world.
• Be able to plan and lead opportunities which encourage children’s engagement in expressive arts and design.

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.

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, then you will need to have GCSE English and Maths at grade C or above.

1. Nursery Nurse
2. Nursery Practitioner
3. Early Years Practitioner
4. Day Nursery Practitioner
5. Pre School Practitioner
6. Nursery Teacher
7. Early Years Teacher
8. Reception Class Teacher
9. Pre-School Assistant
10. Nursery Worker
11. Home based child carer
12. Nanny
13. Child-minder