Level 3 National Diploma in Children's Play, Learning & Development

Course overview

This course leads to a widely recognised national qualification, for those who wish to care for children from 0-8 years, and to open a line of progression to higher education such as primary teaching, social work, speech therapy, paediatric nursing and midwifery. This is an advanced level course, which includes at least 750 hours of work experience placements in nurseries, reception and infant classes, and other early year's settings. The aim of the course is to equip you with both knowledge and skills to care for young children in a wide variety of settings (day nurseries, children's centres, reception class, infant class, nursery class, special school, child-minders, and family refuge centres) so the content reflects the breadth of work opportunities.

This two-year Level 3 qualification provides you with 'Early Years Educator' status once a successful pass grade has been achieved. It will give you the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to prepare you for employment. The BTEC National Diploma offers a focused qualification for people who wish to follow a programme of study that is directly related to their work experience.

Maths and English
Alongside your course you will study maths and/or English to improve your skills in these vital subjects by attending structured weekly sessions as part of your timetable. Maths and English development is also integrated in practical assignments.

What else do I need to know?

You will have opportunities to develop skills and techniques, personal qualities and attitudes essential for successful performance in working life. As you will be working with children you will need to have a clearance form which is called a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) in order to ensure the safety of the vulnerable children and young adults that you will come into contact with. Please discuss this with your interviewing tutor.