Why Study This Course?
Are you ready to take the next step in your Early Years career? This Level 3 Diploma will equip you to become a qualified Early Years Educator, working with children from birth to seven years. You’ll gain the knowledge and skills to excel in day nurseries, nursery schools, or reception classes. This course is perfect for those passionate about child development and eager to make a real difference in young lives.
If you already have your Level 2 Early Years Diploma and want to advance, this course is for you! You will:
Develop the skills to work as a Room Leader, Deputy, or Manager.
Be assessed in your own Early Years workplace by our experienced assessors.
Gain practical experience and theoretical knowledge to enhance your career.
This course covers:
Introduction to the Role of the Early Years Educator
Holistic Child Development
Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Effective Communication in an Early Years Setting
Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements
Health, Wellbeing and Safety
Promoting an Effective Early Years Curriculum
Assessment of Children’s Learning and Development
Understanding Play for Learning and Holistic Development
Partnership Working
This course uses a hybrid learning model, combining one evening in-class session with one evening online session per week. You'll learn through tutor presentations, pair and group tasks, individual learning activities, videos, and podcasts. We encourage you to share your work-based experiences and participate in role-play activities.
To join this course, you need to meet the following criteria:
Be 19 or over on 31st August prior to the course start date.
Be working a minimum of 3 days per week in an Early Years setting.
Hold a Level 2 Early Years qualification (or equivalent) and have sufficient Early Years work experience.
Possess Level 2 English skills (GCSE or Functional Skills Level 2 preferred, but can be studied alongside the course).
Your progress will be assessed through coursework submitted to an online portfolio. Your tutor/assessor will provide online feedback on your written work. You'll also be assigned an assessor who will visit your workplace to observe your interactions with children and families. Upon successful completion, you can explore further qualifications in Early Years or progress into leadership roles.
This course requires a mandatory work placement of at least 300 hours (350 hours recommended). This practical experience is essential for your development. We expect 100% attendance for both onsite and online teaching sessions, in line with college policy.
Please note that tutors may occasionally be changed at short notice. While teaching styles may vary, we ensure consistent quality across all of our courses. For this reason, a change of tutor does not qualify for a refund.