T-Level in Education and Early Years: Early Years Educator – September 2024

Funding information: Please contact the college for funding information.
Duration: 2 years
Attendance: Full-time Provision

Course Overview

This T-Level course is for students who wish to pursue a career working with children and families. T-Levels have been introduced gradually over the last 3 years in England as a route into a wide number of education and childcare related careers. As this is a new course the content is aligned with the skills and knowledge required to work in the early years sector right. Students will be able to utilise specialist resources and take part in lessons where they will learn about a wide range of important factors to prepare them for transition to industry.

Industry Work Placements play a vital part of the T-Level programme and students will spend over 715 hours with 1 or 2 employers over the 2 years. The knowledge and skills taught and developed in the classroom can be refined during this time and designated industry professionals will support students to progress and become competent.

Upon completion of this qualification students will have a licence to practice meaning that they will be ready to enter the workforce or progress onto higher education.

As this T-Level qualification is the equivalent to 3 A-Levels and carries the same amount of UCAS points as these, progress onto a related university course is a possibility.

Timetabled days are TBC but this is in line with our current level 3 provision with regards to Full Time hours and 2 years in duration. Regular homework tasks will be set along with substantial work placement involvement and so applicants should be prepared to engage with the study programme for 37.5 hours per week on average in line with a full time position in industry.

Course Content

Core Content:

  • 1. Wider context
  • 2. Supporting education
  • 3. Safeguarding, health and safety and wellbeing
  • 4. Behaviour
  • 5. Parents, families and carers
  • 6. Working with others
  • 7. Child development
  • 8. Observation and assessment
  • 9. Reflective practice
  • 10. Equality and diversity
  • 11. Special educational needs and disability
  • 12. English as an additional language

EYE Pathway content

  • 1. Support and promote children’s play, development and early Education
  • 2. Develop relationships with children to facilitate their development
  • 3. Plan, provide and review care, play and educational opportunities to enable children to progress
  • 4. Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children
  • 5. Work in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children’s development

Core skills covered in this T-Level are:

  • Demonstrating Person-centred care skills
  • Communication
  • Team working
  • Reflective evaluation
  • Researching
  • Presenting

Holistic Development

In addition to the above; maths, English, and digital skills will be integrated within the qualification in occupationally relevant contexts.

Entry Requirements

You will need 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above (maths & English at minimum of Grade 4) and a supportive character reference.

Assessment Methods

  • The core component is 100% externally assessed. External assessments are set and marked by NCFE. The external examinations and ESP will assess students’ core knowledge
  • core understanding and core skills relevant to the occupations within the education and childcare.

Progression

T-Levels are equivalent to 3 A-Levels and so hold the same number of UCAS points. Successful completion can lead to:

  • Progression onto a full degree in teaching, Early Childhood Studies or a selection of other child/education related degree courses
  • Progression into skilled work in the sector