T Level in Education and Early Years (Early Years Educator – EYE)

You will need 5 GCSE's at grade 4-9 including Maths and English. We also require you to have a clear enhanced DBS in order to undertake placements working with babies and children.

During the T Level study programme, you will complete the core content, which is divided into 12 elements, including 4 core skills, all of which indicate the relevant knowledge and understanding of concepts, theories and principles relevant to occupations within education and early years. The knowledge and skills are all externally assessed through written examinations and an ESP.

The occupational specialism in year 2 is divided into performance outcomes, each of which indicates the knowledge and skills required to enable students to achieve threshold competence in the chosen occupational specialism. These performance outcomes are all externally assessed through synoptic assignments, in which the student will be expected to demonstrate required knowledge and skills.

Year 1 Assessment Method -

Core component:
- Paper A written examination
- Paper B written examination
- Employer-Set Project (ESP)

Assessments are through examinations, observations of practice in settings, practical projects and coursework. Core component examinations are combined results from papers A and B and are aggregated to form the overall core component grade (A*–E or U).

Year 2 Assessment Method -

Occupational specialism component:
- Synoptic assignments

You are also required to successfully achieve a distinction/merit/pass grade in one of the occupational specialism components.

Maths and English are essential when working in the early years sector, and these - along with digital skills - will be threaded throughout the Education and Childcare qualification content and will be relevant to the sector and working with babies and children.

You must have five GCSEs, including Maths and English Language at grade 4 or above for entry for the T Level study programme.

We have strong relationships with local providers and will support you with your industry placement.

Placements are intended to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for employment within their chosen occupation of the early years sector.

The early years educator pathway requires you to complete 750 hours placement across the two-year programme and successful completion will result in you being fully competent to work as a Level 3 practitioner in the industry. To support skills practice, the industry placement is used to assess students’ early years educator competencies in practice and students are assessed using appropriate methods for practical competences from our specialist early years vocational assessors.

Throughout the study programme, you will develop the skills and behaviours required to achieve threshold competence, as deemed sufficient by employers in the sector of a chosen occupational specialism. Achievement of threshold competence signals that you are well placed to develop full occupational competence, with further support and development once in work.

This programme has been written in conjunction with employers so is specific to this sector. There will be master classes from employers, as well as extensive input whilst on placement in a relevant setting.

You will be planning and delivering activities with a range of ages and provisions alongside the early years foundation stage (curriculum for 0-5 years of age).

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.

The NCFE/CACHE T Level Technical Qualification in Education and Childcare meets the Early Years Educator criteria and has been recognised and approved by the Department for Education. Holders of this qualification (only those that have taken the Early Years Educator occupational specialism) may be counted in early years foundation stage (EYFS)
English, mathematics and digital skills have also been embedded throughout the TQ and must be taught when highlighted in the content.

The course is delivered across 3 days per week in college, alongside two days per week in placement. There will also be some planned block weeks in placement.

The purpose of the T Level in Education and Childcare (Early Years Educator - EYE) is to ensure students have the knowledge and skills needed to progress into skilled employment or to higher technical training.

The objectives of this qualification are to equip you with:

- The core knowledge and core skills relevant to education and childcare
- Up to date occupational knowledge and skills that have continued currency amongst employers and others
- The necessary English, Mathematics and digital skills
- Threshold competence that meets employer expectations and is as close to full occupational competence as possible
- Opportunities to manage and improve your own performance

You will study core content, including:
- Child development
- Health and safety
- Equality and diversity
- Observation skills

Occupational specialist content includes topics such as:
- Play
- Educational opportunities
- Relationships
- Safeguarding
- Planning meaningful activities

Within the Level 3 T Level full-time programme, you will complete 12 modules, for example, supporting education, safeguarding, working in partnerships, child development and lots more over 2 years.

You will also support and promote children’s play, development and early education, as well as developing relationships with children to facilitate their development, and planning, providing and reviewing care, play and educational opportunities to enable children to progress.

You'll learn about safeguarding and promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of children, working in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children’s development.

NCFE

The T Level in Education and Childcare forms part of the new T Level in Education. The outline content has been produced by T Level panels based on the same standards as those used for apprenticeships.

The outline content formed the basis of this qualification and has been further developed by NCFE.

The qualification has core components and occupational specialism components. These include:

- Early Years Educator
- Assisting Teaching
- Supporting and Mentoring Students in Educational Settings

Students must not complete more than one occupational specialism component.