CHILDREN'S CARE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT Level 3 Diploma

Level 3
Further Education
Newry Campus
Lurgan Campus
CACHE

Overview

This qualification is designed to help learners build the knowledge and skills needed when working with children up to the age of 5 years 11months. It covers a diverse range of job roles and occupational areas in children’s settings, including early years.

It is suitable for those who wish to work, or are working at an unsupervised level, in children’s care, learning and development in Northern Ireland. Students enrolled on this course must undertake 600-700hrs work placement (on average 3 days a week working in a childcare setting with children 0 - 5yrs 11months).

The qualification confirms competence in these areas and serves as the required qualification for all new practitioners for registration and regulatory requirements in Northern Ireland.

This qualification aims to:

Focus on the study of children’s care, learning and development in Northern Ireland
Offer breadth and depth of study, incorporating a key core of knowledge
Provide opportunities to acquire a number of practical and technical skills

The objective of this qualification is to:

Build knowledge and skills needed to work with children in Northern Ireland

All learners MUST have access to either employment or work experience in a real work setting to support them to develop and practise their skills, and apply their knowledge at an appropriate level. This ensures that learners are able to demonstrate consistent competence at Level 3 to meet the requirements of the Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Northern Ireland).

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age on or before 1st July in the year of proposed entry to the course and have recently been in education to key stage 4 (completion of compulsory education).

The College will review the qualifications and/or experience held by applicants and will consider whether this profile shows an ability to progress towards a level 3 qualification.

Applicants must have achieved the following:

Have achieved a level 2 Diploma in Childcare or BTEC Level 2 Diploma/ NVQ 2 or equivalent in a related field or at least four GCSEs at grade C or Leaving Certificate - three C3 grade (Ordinary level)
15 points or greater at GCSE, consisting of at least 4 GCSE at Grade C (or equivalent qualification profile from the Register of Regulated Qualifications). In certain circumstances the College may reduce this requirement if it is deemed that the candidate has demonstrated the commitment, understanding and knowledge of the subject.
Grade C in English or Essential Skills Literacy Level 2.
Have access to either employment or work experience in a real work setting to support learners to develop and practice their skills and apply their knowledge at an appropriate level. This ensures that learners are able to demonstrate consistent competence at level 3 to meet the requirements of the Level 3 Extended Diploma for Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Northern Ireland) units.
Undergo initial assessment against the requirements of the qualification, and this must be documented. An individual learning plan can then be produced.
Complete an Access NI check and additional vetting as required per setting i.e. medical, reference checks and social service checks. Applicants and learners will be subject to the Fitness to Practice Policy.
Demonstrate clear evidence of completed placement hours from the Diploma qualification (570 hrs if Level 2 qualification held or experience in the last 2 years. 600-700 hrs if no previous experience).

Please note that the work setting must be either a regulated (via social services) or an inspected (via Social Services or the Education and Training Inspectorate) early years setting. This means that the learner must have access to working with children aged from 0–5 years and 11 months for all of their practice/placement hours. Appropriate settings, including Irish-medium schools, would be:

Registered childminding setting working with children up to 5 years 11 months
Playgroups
Day care nurseries
Statutory nursery settings
Early years foundation stage provision up to the age of 5 years 11 months
Sure Start provision

The requirement cannot be met by time spent with children within a learner’s family/extended family, babysitting or through other informal arrangements.

Attendance at Individual or Group Pre-Entry Advice Sessions (IPEAS and GPEAS) may be required. These interviews may take place either on campus, via telephone or video call (Microsoft teams) and will play an important role in the selection of all courses.

This course is delivered face to face one day per week with classes starting after 3pm. Additional time for tutorials and assignments will be available via online support.

To be awarded this qualification learners are required to successfully complete 70 credits overall, 56 credits from the mandatory units and 14 credits from the optional units.

Units of study include:

Context and principles for the early years sector – Theme 1
Communication and partnership working – Theme 2
Safeguarding children – Theme 3
Keeping children safe, healthy and well – Theme 4
Support children’s personal care and nutrition – Theme 5
Supporting children’s development – Theme 6
Supporting children’s play opportunities and experiences of play – Theme 7
Contribute to the support of children with disabilities and/or special needs – Theme 8
Understand the needs of children and young people who are vulnerable and experiencing poverty and disadvantage
Support children with learning disabilities
Support the learning and development of children with health needs

Learners will be assessed by internally assessed and externally quality assured portfolio of evidence. This includes:

Written evidence
Reports
Presentations,
Reflective discussions
Placement observations.

Learners must successfully achieve all to secure the qualification.

On completion of this course, successful students can work with children in an unsupervised capacity in the public, private or voluntary sector such as in nurseries, crèches or schools. Successful students can also progress to a Level 4 qualification in a related field such as:

Children's Care, Leaning & Development Level 3 Extended Diploma [Top Up]
Other short professional development courses relating to childcare
Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning Certificate

Learners qualified at Level 3 may work as room supervisors, team leaders or deputise for the leader working under the supervision of the manager.

Faculty of Health & Science

FacultyHESC@src.ac.uk 028 3025 9685

Lurgan Campus

Applications are closed

P2423LD
Code

Part Time
Mode of Study

Day
Class Type

1 Year
Duration

28.75
Hours Per Week

01/10/2024 12:15
Start Date & Time

Tue
Day/s

£850
Total Full Fee Per Year

£498
Total Concessionary Fee

Full Fee Breakdown

Course Fee

£704

Exam/Awarding Body Fee

£146

Total Fee

£850

**Concession Fee Breakdown

Concession Fee

£352

Total Fee

£498

Fees Payable Each Year **Am I eligible for concessionary fees?

Newry Campus

Applications are closed

P2424ND
Code

Part Time
Mode of Study

Day
Class Type

1 Year
Duration

28.75
Hours Per Week

01/10/2024 13:15
Start Date & Time

Tue
Day/s

£850
Total Full Fee Per Year

£498
Total Concessionary Fee

Full Fee Breakdown

Course Fee

£704

Exam/Awarding Body Fee

£146

Total Fee

£850

**Concession Fee Breakdown

Concession Fee

£352

Total Fee

£498

Fees Payable Each Year **Am I eligible for concessionary fees?

2 Available Sessions

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