Entry Year
Location
Duration
Course Code
Qualifications
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Children's Care Learning and Development (Northern Ireland) (603/6141/4)
Day of week: Tuesday, Wednesday
Times: 18:00 - 21:00
Level 2 Award in Employment Rights and Responsibilities (501/1723/3)
Paediatric First Aid
Overview
Welcome to the City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning, and Development (Northern Ireland)!
Duration: One Year, Apprenticeship
About the Course: Embark on a rewarding journey with us as you explore the fascinating world of child development and caregiving. The Level 3 Diploma is designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in Early Years settings, working with children aged 0-5 years and 11 months.
Work Settings: Immerse yourself in real-world experiences within regulated or inspected early years settings. Whether it's a registered childminding setting, playgroup, day care nursery, statutory nursery setting, foundation phase provision, or Sure Start provision – you'll be surrounded by opportunities to make a meaningful impact on young lives.
Roles You Can Pursue: Upon completion, you can step into various leadership roles, including room supervisor, childminder, nursery nurse, Sure Start room leader, or playgroup room leader. This diploma opens doors to fulfilling careers in full-day care, sessional care, childminding, and out-of-school clubs.
Programme Options: Tailor your learning experience with flexible apprenticeship options. Classes are conveniently scheduled once a week at our Millfield Campus, allowing you to balance your studies with work and other commitments. Online Tutorial and placement tutorial will be timetabled during the week.
Course Highlights:
- Theoretical Knowledge: Delve into subjects such as special educational needs, safeguarding, child development, and play. Your understanding will be assessed through child observations, case studies, and assignments, ensuring you become a knowledgeable and employable practitioner.
- Practical Competency: Showcase your skills during placements, supported by our dedicated staff team. Accumulate a minimum of 600 placement hours in early years settings, working with children up to 5 years and 11 months, to solidify your practical competency.
Course Schedule: Conveniently scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5-9 pm at our Millfield Campus, our Level 3 Children’s Care, Learning & Development course provides you with the flexibility to balance your studies with other commitments.
Apprenticeship Path: This course is available as an All Age Apprenticeship! If you are currently employed in the Childcare sector, this apprenticeship is your pathway to career advancement. We'll support you in discussing this option with your employer, providing a seamless transition.
Network, Learn, Grow: Engage with a diverse community of learners from various settings! Embrace the classroom-based approach to discuss the latest trends, share best practices, and navigate current issues. Elevate your learning experience through networking and peer relationships, gaining insights that go beyond the textbooks.
Embark on Your Career Journey - Part-Time Style! Uncover the richness of early childhood alongside fellow learners. Join our vibrant community, where learning is not just educational but also a collaborative adventure.
Next Steps: Are you ready to take the fast track to success in the early years sector? Join us and pave the way to becoming a highly valued supervisor.
Enrich Your Future! Apply Now!
Download the Pre-Entry Advice presentation. Play Slideshow in the presentation to activate any links or videos
Please also click the links below to watch our Childhood Studies videos, these include comments from learners.
Childhood Studies - Course Spotlight
Childhood Studies - Our Journey
Progression in Childcare - Early Years
- Requirements are pre-defined by the College’s admissions criteria, which can be found by visiting our entry criteria page here to find out the standard entry criteria.
- Proof of qualifications MUST be provided when you enrol, e.g. exam certificates.
- Achieved and pending qualifications can be recorded now by logging into your online application account.
- All courses within Belfast Met are delivered and assessed in English, apart from language-specific courses. Your competence in English must be verified prior to enrolling on your chosen course.
- Enrolment on this course will be conditional upon satisfactory and timely completion of an ACCESS NI Criminal Records check and Social Services check
- The AccessNI check will be carried out in accordance with the AccessNI Code of Practice which can be found here. A copy of this can be made available upon request
Enhance Criteria
- You must have achieved a Level 2 Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development
- Preference will be given to those with Level 2 English and Maths (GCSE grade A*-C)
- You must be a new employee, or an existing employee taking on a new role to take part in the programme. Employers may apply their own criteria at recruitment. Please let Belfast Met know if you need support to find employment.
- See also the DfE operational requirements
The Childcare Apprenticeship is aimed at students aged over 18 years. Apprentices also need to be employed or starting a new job in the childcare sector. Employers need to be committed to releasing apprentices for timetabled classes at the college.
Please note:
Belfast Met actively promotes equality of opportunity and welcomes enrolments from a wide range of applicants and students, including those with criminal convictions. However, in order for the College to manage any risk that you may pose, you must tell us about any unspent criminal convictions you may have. For certain courses, you must disclose all criminal convictions.
To tell us about your convictions, please complete either a Criminal Offence(s) Disclosure Form or an Enhanced Criminal Offence(s) Disclosure Form
Both forms are available on the Student Criminal Disclosures page of our website Student Criminal Disclosures (belfastmet.ac.uk)
Practical competencies will be assessed in placement by a visiting assessor on at least two occasions in your placement/employment setting.
Theoretical knowledge will be assessed by assignments, case studies and child observations throughout the year
Careers
This course will provide students with the qualification and a licence to practice that is recognised for work in the following areas:
- Child Minder
- Day care supervisor
- Pre-school or Playgroup supervisor
- After school club supervisor
- Classroom assistant & special needs school classroom assistant
- On successful completion, and if deemed suitable, you may undertake further study a Level 5 Leadership and Management in CCLD or Playwork
The Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development holds 32 UCAS points. Previous students have used this qualification to enhance their applications for Higher Education qualifications such as
- Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies
- BA Early Years, BEd and PGCE. (If they already hold essential qualifications.)
Interests
- Caring
- Learning
- Early Years
- Play
- Volunteering
- Children
- Teaching
- Childcare
- Child Development
- Special Needs
- Supervisor/manager
Useful Links
- Study at the Met
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