BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Children-™s Play, Learning and Development (Early Years Educator)

Course Summary

Subject: Childcare

Course Title: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Children-™s Play, Learning and Development (Early Years Educator)

Course Types: Sixth Form

Course Level: Level 3

Age Group: 16-18

Course Description

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Children’s Play Learning and Development (Early Years Educator) is intended as a Tech Level, equivalent in size to 3 A levels, and will confer Early Years Educator status on students, qualifying them to work directly in the sector.

This size qualification is particularly appropriate for those with an interest in progressing directly to a career as an Early Years Educator (for example, nursery worker, childminder or nanny). It is also appropriate for those wishing to progress to higher education to specialise in a related field.

Students taking this qualification will study eleven mandatory units, which cover the following topics

• Children’s development

• Supporting children’s early learning

• Play

• Keeping children safe

• Working with parents

• Reflective practice

• Observation, assessment and planning

• The early years foundation stage

• Research

Option units have been designed to support progression to relevant occupational areas and to the range of sector-related courses in HE. They cover content areas such as:

• Promoting children’s development outdoors

• An introduction to working in a Montessori setting

• Working with children with additional needs

Within the qualification there are eleven mandatory units that students must complete, eight internally assessed and three externally assessed. As well as the mandatory units, students must complete four optional units to achieve the full qualification a total of fifteen units must be achieved at Pass, Merit or Distinction grade.

The three externally set, assessed and supervised units are:

Unit 1 - Children's Development - written examination

Unit 2 - Development of Children's Communication, Literacy and Numeracy Skills - Students will be provided with a case study two days before a supervised assessment period, in order to carry out research. They then carry out the supervised assessment.

Unit 3 - Enquiries into Current Research in Early Years Provision. Students will be provided with a research article six weeks prior and will then have a three hour assessment at a time set by the examining body.

Progression Route

What could this qualification lead to? Will the qualification lead to employment, if so, in which job role and at which level?

• The qualification is a licence to practice in the early years sector. Students will be able to progress to roles such as early year practitioners, nursery nurses and childminders.

Will the qualification support progression to further learning, if so, what to?

• The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Children’s Play, Learning and Development will normally be the only qualification in a two-year study programme. It is particularly for the student looking for a full-time course specialising in this sector.

The qualification is intended to carry UCAS points and is recognised by HE providers as meeting admission requirements to many relevant courses, for example:

• BA(Hons) Special Education

• BSC (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy

• BA (Hons) Primary Education.

This qualification is equivalent in size to three A levels and is for students who know they want to work with children as an Early Years Educator, either directly on achievement of this qualification, or after further study for a sector-related degree.

Enrichment Opportunities

All students taking this qualification will be required to engage with sector employers as part of their course. This includes 750 hours in mandatory work experience in a minimum of two different settings from birth to seven years 11 months over the duration of the two year course. They will have to produce a Practical Evidence Portfolio to record evidence of engagement in continuing professional development and reflective practice in different early years setting.

Course Entry Guidelines

No prior study of the sector is needed, but students should normally have a range of achievement at level 2, in GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. In order for a student to practise as an Early Year Educator, they will also need to achieve at least grade 4 GCSE in English and in mathematics.

See what career this course can give you access

Gallery

Related Courses