T-Level Early Years Education And Childcare

This is a 2 year course equivalent to 3 A Levels. Learners will spend 80% of their time in the classroom and 20% in industry placements (9 weeks minimum, which is equivalent to approximately 750 industry placement hours).

This course prepares learners to work with children between birth and five years, with knowledge of children up to seven years. The course is suitable for anyone wanting a career in early years education.

Successful completion of this course will give you a licence to practice, enabling you to enter the workplace as a qualified Early Years Educator and offers progression opportunities into Higher Education (HE).

UCAS points will only be allocated to the overall T Level Grade. Students must achieve at least an overall Pass Grade to receive UCAS points. A T Level Distinction* is worth the same as 3 A Levels at A*.

Course structure

Year 1 is made up of three key parts: 

1. Core: Knowledge and understanding of contexts, concepts and theories of the education and childcare sector:

• Child Development

• Supporting Education

• Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Wellbeing

• Behaviour

• Observation and Assessment

• Equality and Diversity

• Special Educational Needs and Disability

• English as an Additional Language

• Wider Context

• Parents, Families and Carers

• Working with others

• Reflective Practice

• English, Maths and digital skills needed in the education and childcare sector

2. Employer Set Project: A project set by education and childcare specialists that requires you to apply your knowledge to a real-life problem in the industry. 

3. Industry Placement: You will get the opportunity to put the knowledge and skills you have learned in to action as you start your industry placement. You will work with an external education or childcare employer provider to apply your knowledge and develop your technical skills in a real life education or childcare workplace. 

Year 2 is made up of two key parts:

• You will complete the Occupational Specialism Early Years Education and Childcare; this specialism will enable you to explore and develop the skills, knowledge, understanding and behaviours needed to  

• 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

• Plan, Provide and review care, play and educational opportunities to professionals to support children’s development

• Continuation of your Industry Placement; with an external education or childcare employer which will develop your technical skills and apply your knowledge in a workplace environment.

Across year one and two, you will complete at least 750 hours (approx. 150 days) in total working in the education and childcare sector, giving you valuable experience in the workplace and employers the chance to see the new talent in this sector.

How will I be assessed?

Year 1:

Core Assessment: Externally Set Test – Paper 1 and Paper 2 are both graded A*- E

Employer Set Project: Externally assessed project work is graded A*- E

Industry Placement: Evidence log to show completion of hours required and evidence of development of technical skills and application of knowledge in a workplace environment.

Year 2:

Synoptic assessments: to judge how well the competence requirements have been met. Graded: Distinction, Merit or Pass.

Industry Placement: Evidence log to show completion of hours required and evidence of development of technical skills and application of knowledge in a workplace environment.