Course Outline
This course is an apprenticeship, a job with training for new and existing staff employed in an Early Years setting. This course will enable the learner to reach their full potential in their role in the setting by providing them with the knowledge, practical experience and wider skills and behaviours needed for their job and future career opportunities.
Early Years Educator – Role Profile
Early Years Educators are highly trained professionals who play a key role in ensuring that young children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. They work in a range of settings including full day care, children’s centres, pre schools, reception classes and as childminders. They may either be working on their own or supervising others to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements set by Government for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old.
An Early Years Educator
- Plans and supervises child initiated and adult led activities which are based around the needs and interests of each individual child
- Supports children to develop numeracy and language skills through games and play
- Has key person responsibility to help ensure each child feels safe and secure
- Observes each child and shapes their learning experience to reflect their observations
- Meets the care needs of the individual child such as feeding, changing nappies and administration of medicine
- Works in partnership with other colleagues, parents and/or carers or other professionals to meet the individual needs of each child
Individuals will undergo all the checks as per the EYFS requirements to ensure suitability to work with children. (Institute for Apprentices & Technical Education).
Technical overview
Sector
Education – Early Years and Learning Support
Funding Options
Apprenticeships must be paid for by the employer. We will manage this.
Qualification Level
3
Course Duration
18 months plus up to 3 months end point assessment
Link to qualification specification
Delivery locations
East Midlands, North West, Yorkshire & the Humber, London, South West.
Delivery Model
Blended – face to face, workbased and online
Typical Work Hours and Off the Job Hours
Typically 30 hours in-work hours per week plus 370 off the job hours over the whole course are required to meet the apprenticeship standard and will take place during your contracted working hours. It includes a mix of e-learning, practical training, webinars and face-to-face training sessions.
Further career opportunities
With additional experience, an Early Years Educator can become the manager or deputy manager of an early years setting and progress on to a level 5 apprenticeship.
Course Information
This course is designed for a wide range of staff from those newly appointed to those with many years’ experience. The course will be tailored to individual needs and will build on their existing experience and knowledge. We will not teach them what they already know, rather we will fill in the gaps and introduce them to new concepts to enable them to reach their full potential in their role.
How is the course delivered and assessed?
The course is delivered through a blended model which means a mix of
- Online face to face delivery
- Observations of practice in the early years or school by the tutor
- Mentoring support from the class teacher and other staff
- 1-2-1 support from the class tutor
- Self study to complete assignments set by the tutor
- The employer must allocate time for the learner to progress their apprenticeship training. This is roughly 6 hours per week if the learner work 30 hours or more. This will be supervised and monitored by the tutor.
Funding eligibility and entry requirements
- Must be employed
- Must be aged 16 or over, there is no upper age limit.
- British citizen or resident in the UK for at least 3yrs with the right to work
- The learner will be expected to have achieved a relevant level 2 qualification or have gained relevant experience in early years
- It is preferable that you have already achieve GCSE grade 4 / 5 in both English and Maths, if not, then to start the course you must have already achieved Level 1 in both English and Maths.
Course completion
All course work and practical observations as set by the tutor must be completed
To complete they will need to pass an external “end point assessment”
Apprentices without English at level 2 and Maths at Level 2 at the start of the programme must achieve these prior to taking the End Point Assessment (if 16-18 yrs old, if over 18 then English as a minimum). These qualifications will be delivered as part of the apprenticeship programme if required.
The course will be graded pass, merit or distinction
The learner will be awarded the following certificates of completion of the course
Apprenticeship certificate from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Qualifications.
Paediatric first aid
Functional Skills in Maths and English L2 if they have not already achieved these at GCSE
