Early Years Practitioner - Level 2 Diploma

This course prepares you to work with children between birth and five years with compulsory work placement to gain practical childcare skills and experience. As part of your qualification you will gain experience in a range of early years settings, where you will be visited by our assessors who will carry out observations to show you have gained the skills required. The qualification content meets the Department for Education's (DfE)  full criteria for a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner, which gives you the licence to practice under supervision in this sector. You will need to complete 250 work placement hours whilst undertaking this qualification.

Topics covered can include:

• Roles and responsibilities of the early years practitioner
• Health and safety of babies and young children in the early years
• Equality, diversity and inclusive practice in early years settings
• Safeguarding, protection and welfare of babies and young children in early years settings
• Understand how to support children's development
• Support care routines for babies and young children 
• Support the planning and delivery of activities, purposeful play opportunities and educational programmes
•  Promote play in an early years setting
• Support the well-being of babies and young children for healthy lifestyles 
• Support babies and young children to be physically active
• Support the needs of babies and young children with
• Special Educational Needs and Disability
• Promote positive behaviour in early years settings
• Partnership working in the early years
• Support the needs of the child in preparing for school

You will need:

• GCSE English at grade 3 or above
• Level 1 qualification in a related subject
• Enhanced DBS Check - we are able to advise you on how to apply for this, but you must pay for this in advance of work placements

All applicants must have an assessment and interview to confirm that the course is suitable for them.

Assessment is through both formative and summative methods. Summative assessment is directly linked to the NCFE/CACHE standards, which are drawn from the National Occupational Qualifications for Child Development and Wellbeing. These will include the written work completed in lessons or at home, assignment tasks, reports from work placement providers and internal assessors of professional practice, targeted questions in lessons, group discussions and presentations.

Aged 16-18

If you will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31st August prior to the start date of your course and you have the legal right to remain in the UK for the duration of your programme then your study with us will be free. Please see here for the documents you will need to show us.

Some courses will have other associated costs, such as for specialist materials and trips. Many of our students are eligible for financial support, see here for details.

Adults - Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2

If you will be aged 19+ on 31st August prior to the start date of your course, up to Level 2, then your study with us will be free. You must have lived for 3 years within the EU/EEA/UK prior to the start of your course, you must have lived in the UK before 1st January 2021 and you must have permission to live in the UK for at least 12 months from the first day of learning. Please see here for the documents you will need to show us.

Some courses will have other associated costs, such as for specialist materials and trips. Many of our students are eligible for financial support, see here for details.

Upon successful completion of this qualification, learners can enter the workforce as a qualified Level 2 Early Years Practitioner or continue to study for a Level 3 Diploma holding Early Years Educator status. This qualification allows a learner to count towards the Level 2 ratio as a qualified Level 2 Early Years Practitioner within the Early Years Workforce. Learners may work under supervision in a variety of roles such as Nursery Practitioner, Classroom Assistant, and Pre-school Practitioner.