Early Years - Level 3

• 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, including English and maths
• OR an Early Years - Level 2 qualification with placement experience
• Suitable DBS clearance.

Please note: Those wishing to progress to university to study Teacher Training must have GCSE English, maths and science at grade 4/C or above. 

Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a Level 3 Technical Diploma in Childcare and Education (EYE).

• Child development
• Child welfare
• Health and Safety
• Safeguarding
• Child observation
• Additional needs
• Partnership working.

• Practical workshops
• Theoretical studies.

This course runs for 30 hours per week, scheduled across four days at Kidderminster College campus, which includes two days on work experience placement.

Classes generally run between 9am-4:15pm but may vary.

• Assignments
• Group presentations
• Leaflets
• Displays
• Posters
• Show ability in activity planning, risk assessment and child observation.

You'll be required to complete one external assessment during your first year of study and a further external assessment in your second year.

You'll also be assessed with all the age ranges in the workplace and will have a dedicated assessor who will set assignments for you to plan and implement.

Work experience is a compulsory part of the course and provides the practical skills needed to work with children. Carers will need to undertake two days per week of assessed work experience in a variety early years settings, arranged by the College.

You'll also be assessed with all the age ranges in the workplace and will have a dedicated assessor who will set assessments for you to plan and implement.

Carers must accrue 750 hours of work experience across four age ranges to complete this course.

If you're aged 16-18 and you haven't achieved GCSE grade 4/C or higher in English and maths, you'll need to take English and maths classes alongside your programme of study.

We embed English an maths into your course in a variety of ways. You'll research articles to explore mathematical concepts and promote literacy skills. You'll also be assigned reflective writing tasks to analyse theories and apply them to real-life early years scenarios.

You'll work on real-world problems that require maths skills, such as working out ratios when working with children. You'll deliver group projects that combine English and maths, such as creating educational resources for young children, as well as using technology tools to enhance language and maths learning.

By integrating English and maths, you'll develop advanced skills in both subjects, while understanding how to support young children’s learning effectively.

Tutorial is a program of essential topics affecting you as a potential employee and member of a community. You will cover topics to improve employability skills, mental fitness (both for you and those around you) and much more. It is an essential part of your personal development.

As part of you weekly timetable, you will be expected to take part in Tutorial. This consists of a 1-1 meeting (at least 3 a year) and Personal Development activities that develop you both personally and professionally. Part of the focus is to raise digital Standards and take part in Employer Engagement Activities such as guest speakers, logging Work Experience and in person and online networking.

We work with Student Experience, Careers and your Curriculum team to ensure your Tutorial elements link to your industry area and to create opportunities to develop key skills for profile raising as well as enabling you to create competitive applications and CVs.

Tutorial is also an opportunity to check in with you as part of a group and individually. You can discuss any issues you might be having that affect your learning and essentially identify strategies and support available to you.

Upon successful completion of this course, you can go on to a Level 4 Higher National Diploma in Early Childhood here at Kidderminster College.

Alternatively, you can go on to a university degree elsewhere or enter the world of work.