T Level in Education and Childcare (Early Years Educator)

Five GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, including maths and English. You will need a clear enhanced DBS in order to undertake placements working with babies and children.

Year 1 Assessment Method -

Core component:
- Paper A written examination
- Paper B written examination
- Employer-Set Project (ESP) completed in your industry placement.

Assessments are through examinations, observations of practice in settings, practical projects and coursework. Core component examinations are combined results from papers A and B and are aggregated to form the overall core component grade (A*–E or U).

Year 2 Assessment Method -

Occupational specialism component:
- Synoptic assignments

You are also required to successfully achieve a distinction/merit/pass grade in one of the occupational specialism components.

Maths and English are essential when working in the early years sector, and these - along with digital skills - will be threaded throughout the Education and Childcare qualification content and will be relevant to the sector and working with babies and children.

You must have five GCSEs, including Maths and English Language at grade 4 or above for entry for the T Level study programme.

Industry placements are intended to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for employment in their chosen occupation, which may be less easily attainable by completing a qualification alone.

The early years educator pathway requires you to complete 750 hours placement across the two-year programme. The industry placement is used to assess students’ early years educator competencies in practice. Students are assessed using appropriate methods for practical competences from our vocational assessors.

Over the study programme, you will develop the skills and behaviours required to achieve threshold competence, as deemed sufficient by employers in the sector of a chosen occupational specialism. Achievement of threshold competence signals that you are well placed to develop full occupational competence, with further support and development, once in work.

This programme has been written in conjunction with employers so is specific to this sector. There will be master classes from employers, as well as extensive input whilst on placement in a relevant setting.

You will be planning and delivering activities with a range of ages and provisions alongside the early years foundation stage (curriculum for 0-5 years of age).

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.

The NCFE/CACHE T Level Technical Qualification in Education and Childcare meets the Early Years Educator criteria and has been recognised and approved by the Department for Education. Holders of this qualification (only those that have taken the Early Years Educator occupational specialism) may be counted in early years foundation stage (EYFS)
English, mathematics and digital skills have also been embedded throughout the TQ and must be taught when highlighted in the content.

Three days per week in college, two days per week in placement.

The purpose of the T Level in Education and Childcare is to ensure students have the knowledge and skills needed to progress into skilled employment or higher level technical training relevant to the T Level and is a 2-year study bundle.

The objectives of this qualification are to equip you with:

- The core knowledge and core skills relevant to Education and Childcare
- Up to date occupational knowledge and skills that have continued currency amongst employers and others
- The necessary English, mathematics and digital skills
- Threshold competence that meets employer expectations and is as close to full occupational competence as possible
- Opportunities to manage and improve your own performance

You will study core content, including:

- Child development
- Health and safety
- Equality and diversity
- Observation skills

Occupational specialist content includes topics such as:

- Play
- Educational opportunities
- Relationships
- Safeguarding
- Planning meaningful activities

Within the Level 3 T Level full-time programme you will complete 12 elements, for example supporting education, safeguarding, working in partnerships, child development and lots more over 2 years.

You will also support and promote children’s play, development and early education, develop relationships with children to facilitate their development, plan, provide and review care, play and educational opportunities to enable children to progress.

You'll learn about safeguarding and promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of children, working in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children’s development.

NCFE

The T Level in Education and Childcare forms part of the new T Level in Education. The outline content has been produced by T Level panels based on the same standards as those used for apprenticeships.

The outline content formed the basis of this qualification and has been further developed by NCFE.

The qualification has core components and occupational specialism components. These include:

- Early Years Educator
- Assisting Teaching
- Supporting and Mentoring Students in Educational Settings

Students must not complete more than one occupational specialism component.