Whether you ultimately want to be a playworker or teaching assistant, this qualification will equip you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to enter skilled employment in the education and childcare sector.
Maths and English GCSE grade 4 or above.
As an Early Years Educator you will gain knowledge and skills in:
- Planning and supervising child initiated and adult led activities which are based around the needs and interests of each individual child
- Supporting children to develop numeracy and language skills through games and play
- Having key person responsibility to help ensure each child feels safe and secure
- Observing each child and shaping their learning experience to reflect their observations
- Meeting the care needs of the individual child such as feeding, changing nappies and administration of medicine
- Working in partnership with other colleagues, parents and/or carers or other professionals to meet the individual needs of each child
Which employers will be involved with the course?
Day nurseries
Primary schools
Secondary school
Special schools
Alternative provisions
The occupational specialisms are:
• Early Years Educator
• Assisting Teaching
To achieve this qualification, the student must successfully demonstrate their achievement of the Core Component and one Occupational Specialism Component.
Core Component elements are arranged as themes to support holistic learning and understanding:
• Wider Context
• Child Development
• Supporting Education
• Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Wellbeing
• Behaviour
• Observation and Assessment
• Equality and Diversity
• Special Educational Needs and Disability
• English as an Additional Language
• Parents, Families and Carers
• Working with Others
• Reflective Practice
Occupational Specialism Content
Occupational Specialism: Early Years Educator
PO1: Support and promote children’s play, development and early education
PO2: Develop relationships with children to facilitate their development
PO3: Plan, provide and review care, play and educational opportunities to enable children to progress
PO4: Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children
PO5: Work in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children’s development
Occupational Specialism: Assisting Teaching
PO1: Support the class teacher to enhance children’s education, individually and in groups
PO2: Plan, provide and review educational opportunities in collaboration with teachers and other adults
PO3: Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children and young people
PO4: Recognise, adapt and respond to individual children’s needs, including those with SEND, to support development and access to the curriculum
What assessments are involved?
Assessed through:
• 2 written examinations (Paper A and Paper B)
• an employer-set project (ESP) – a supervised project, devised and set by NCFE
Students will receive marks for:
• Paper A
• Paper B
• Employer-set project (ESP).
These marks will be aggregated to create one grade for the Core Component.
Occupational Specialism Assessment
Assessed through:
• Synoptic assignments (specific to each Occupational Specialism).
What career pathways does this course lead to?
This technical qualification will support students on to a range of progression routes including employment, into skills roles:
Early Years Practitioner
Learning Support Practitioner (with additional CPD there could be specialism in school such as supporting children with additional needs / SPL)
Higher education
Higher level apprenticeships.
