Early Years Education and Childcare T Level (Level 3)

Description

T Levels are a new choice after your GCSEs. Check out the 5 great reasons for choosing a T Level – and get ready to move to the next level.

• Created with Business - T Levels have been designed with leading businesses and employers to give you the knowledge and skills you need.

• Get ahead in your career - T Levels give you the chance to learn what a real career is like while you continue your studies. Your industry placement will last for at least 45 days

• Qualifications that count - When you pass your T Level, you will get a nationally recognised certificate showing the overall grade you achieved - pass, merit, distinction or distinction*. It will also give details of what you learned on the course to help you move into skilled employment or a higher apprenticeship.

• Awarded UCAS points - Your T Level will be worth UCAS points – a T Level Distinction* is worth the same as 3 A levels at A* – and will be recognised by universities and other education providers so you can choose to continue studying if you wish.

• Learn your way - T Levels involve more classroom study than apprenticeships, which means you can experience an industry while you continue your studies. Like A levels, there are no tuition fees to study a T Level if you start before you are 19.

Why Study Education and Childcare?
The T Level Technical Qualification in Education and Childcare (Level 3) is equivalent to three A Levels and also enables students to have a licence to practise on completion of the course so that they can be counted in early years foundation stage staff to child ratios.
You will cover core content to help you to develop an understanding of:

• understanding the education and childcare sector from ages 0 to 19
  child development

• how to support children and young people's education

• safeguarding, health and safety and wellbeing

• understanding and managing behaviour

• observing and assessing children and young people

• equality and diversity

• special educational needs and disability

• English as an additional language

• working with parents, carers and wider families

• working with agencies and services that support children, families and carers

• reflective practice and other forms of professional development

You will also have an option to specialise each student must choose one of the following specialisms:

• early years educator

• assisting teaching

• supporting and mentoring students in Educational settings

You will be in College three days a week and in an industry placement for the remaining two days with a need to complete a minimum of 750 hours in placement during the two years to achieve the Early Years Educator or Assisting Teaching specialisms. The course is assessed externally through exams, synoptic assignments, an observation and an employer set project.

Please Note. T Levels are only funded by the government for learners aged 16 to 18. If you are aged 19 or above, you will need to pay the full value of the course (please contact us for details).

Modules may include

The qualification has 2 components:

• Core component

• Occupational specialism components:

    Early Years Educator

    Assisting Teaching

    Supporting and Mentoring Students in Educational Settings

Core Component:

• Wider context

• Supporting education

• Safeguarding, health and safety and wellbeing

• Behaviour

• Parents, families and carers

• Working with others

• Child development

• Observation and assessment

• Reflective practice

• Equality and diversity

• Special educational needs and disability

• English as an additional language

Students are required to complete one occupational specialism option.

Occupational Specialisms:

Early Years Education

• 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

• Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children

• Work in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children's development

As part of achieving the overall T Level programme, any student undertaking the Early Years Educator occupational specialism is required to complete a minimum of 750 hours industry placement.

The industry placement is used to assess students' Early Years Educator competencies.

Assisting Teaching

• Support the class teacher to enhance children's education, individually and in groups

• Plan, provide and review educational opportunities in collaboration with teachers and other adults

• Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children and young people

• Recognise, adapt and respond to individual children's needs, including those with special educational needs and disability (SEND), to support development and access to the curriculum

Supporting and Mentoring Students in Education Settings

• Advise, guide and supervise mentees to acquire the most benefitfrom their educational programme

• Work with education providers and workplace colleagues to plan

• and implement structured and meaningful education and work experience

• Support student mentors' progress and wellbeing

• Promote students' motivation, aspiration and engagement

As part of achieving the overall T Level programme, any student undertaking either the Assisting Teaching or the

Supporting and Mentoring Students in Educational Settings occupational specialisms is required to complete a minimum of 315 hours industry placement.

Assessment methods

Core component

• paper A written examination

• paper B written examination

• employer-set project (ESP)

In order to achieve a grade for Core Component, students must have results for both sub-components (the core

(written) examination and the employer-set project).

The combined results from these sub-components will be aggregated to form the overall Core Component grade

(A*-E and U).

If students fail to reach the minimum standard across all sub-components, they will receive a U grade. No overall

grade will be issued for the core component until both sub-components have been attempted.

Occupational specialism component

• synoptic assignments

The student is also required to successfully achieve a distinction/merit/pass grade in one of the occupational

specialism components. If the student fails to reach the specified level of attainment, they will receive a U grade.

Entry requirements

5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above to include English Language, Maths.  GCSE Science is desirable.

For students progressing from Level 2:  Achieved Level 2,  English Language and Maths at Grade 4.  GCSE Science is desirable.

Applicants and progressing students will also need to provide a positive school/college reference with excellent levels of attendance and punctuality.

You will also need to provide evidence to allow you to apply for a DBS check (Disclosure Barring Service).Students will need three forms of specific identifiaction at enrolement for DBS application.

Career progression

Students who achieve this qualification could progress onto higher education with a view to teaching at primary, secondary or tertiary level or alternatively into employment as an early years practitioner, nursery worker, teaching assistant, Special Educational Needs assistant, learning mentor, portage home visitor.