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Where will this course lead?

The Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner is the perfect transition programme for those learners who are not quite ready for study at Level 3.

The qualification provides a route to employment as a qualified Level 2 Early Years Practitioner, or progression on to the T Level in Education and Childcare.

What will I study?

Roles and responsibilities of the EYP

Health and safety of babies and young children in the early years

Equality, diversity and inclusive practice in Early Years Settings

Safeguarding, protection and welfare of babies and young children in Early Years Settings

Understand how to support children's development

Support care routines for babies and young children

Support the planning and delivery of activities, purposeful play opportunities and educational programmes

Promote play in an Early Years Setting

Support well being of babies and young children for healthy lifestyles

Support babies and young children to be physically active

Support the needs of babies and young children with Special Educational Needs and Disability

Promote positive behaviour in Early Years Settings

Partnership working in the early years

Support the needs of the child in preparing for school

How will this course be delivered?

This course is college based with assessed work based practice. You will be in college 1 - 2 days a week and assessed work practice for 1 day per week.

What qualifications will I get?

NCFE CACHE Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner

How will I be assessed?

To pass this qualification you will need to pass all units. All units will be internally assessed using a range of methods and graded Achieved/Not Yet Achieved.

You will undertake a minimum of 250 hours in work placements, as an important part of the assessment process involves evaluating skills in real working situations.

You will gain experience in working with children of 0 - 7 years in Nursery or Primary School settings.

How do I get a place on the course?

Places are offered by interview depending on your predicted grades and a good reference from your current tutor.

What are the entry requirements?

NCFE Cache Certificate in Working with Children in Early Years and Primary Settings

Or

A minimum of 2 Grade 4 GCSE's including either English or maths GCSE Grade 4.

You must be aged between 16 and 19 to enrol on this course.

At interview you will be asked to complete an initial assessment and advised to complete some work experience prior to enrolment.

What else do I need to know?

All students working with children will need to have a Disclosure and Barring Security Check. 

Failure to provide ID documents (birth certificate, passport) and evidence of address will exclude you from enrolment on this course. Please check accepted documents and have these ready for enrolment. https://www.personnelchecks.co.uk/knowledge-hub/id-guidance-standard-and-enhanced

You will need to provide additional funds for a textbook and uniform for college and work placement.

Educational trips are offered to enhance your learning on the course.

What can I do after this course?

This qualification provides progression to a T Level in Education and Childcare or other relevant L3 programmes.

If you chose to have a break before continuing your studies, you may work as: Children's Centre Worker, Nursery Nurse, Private Nanny, Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant or as a Children's Health Care Assistant.

Location

Blossomfield Campus

Start Date

Sept-2025

Day

Various

Time

TBC

Course Fee

N/A For 16 To 18 Year Olds

Course Code

CHAAC015BCF0

Study Mode

Full Time

Location

Woodlands Campus

Start Date

Sept-2025

Day

Various

Time

TBC

Course Fee

N/A for 16 to 18 Year Olds

Course Code

CHAAX015CCF0

Study Mode

Full Time

Primary School Teacher

Primary (and middle school deemed primary) and nursery education teaching professionals plan, organise and provide instruction to children at all levels up to the age of entry into secondary education.

What’s Involved?

Primary School Teachers prepare and deliver courses and lessons in accordance with curriculum requirements and teach a range of subjects. They prepare, assign and correct exercises and examinations to record and evaluate students' progress. They prepare students for external examinations and administer and invigilate these examinations. They also maintain records of students' progress and development. They supervise students and maintain classroom discipline. They organise various activities to promote language, social and physical development. They undertake pastoral duties. They supervise teaching assistants and trainees. They also discuss progress with students, parents and/or other education professionals. They assist with or plan and develop curriculum and rota of teaching duties.

Nursery Practitioner

Nursery nurses and assistants care for children from birth up to seven years of age in day or residential nurseries, children's homes, maternity units and similar establishments.

What’s Involved?

Nursery Practitioners bathe, dress, prepare feed for and feed babies, change babies clothing whenever necessary. They supervise young children at mealtimes. They plan and organise games and other activities and supervise children's play. They read stories, organise counting games to help develop language and number skills. They also write reports on children's development and maintain awareness of health and safety issues. They communicate with parents and colleagues on children's development and well-being.

Teaching Assistant

Teaching assistants assist teachers with their day-to-day classroom work and with routine administrative tasks.

What’s Involved?

Teaching Assistants assist teachers with preparation or clearing up of classroom. They look after lesson materials such as paper, pencils and crayons. They listen to children read, read to them or tell stories. They also assist children with washing or dressing for outdoor and similar activities. They make simple teaching aids and construct thematic displays of educational material or children's work. They help with outings and other out-of-classroom activities.

Learning Support Assistant

Educational support assistants work with teachers to provide one-to-one support for children with particular learning needs.

What’s Involved?

Learning Support Assistants support schoolwork under teacher's supervision. They help child understand instructions through a variety of means and encourage self-confidence and independence. They identify signs of distress and offer reassurance. They also implement care programmes, as appropriate. They help and encourage children to communicate. They attend to child's physical needs. They provide feedback to teachers and complete and maintain records.

Childminder

Childminders and related occupations provide day-to-day care of children within a domestic setting, and supervise and participate in their play, educational and other activities.

What’s Involved?

Childminders assist children to wash and dress. They change babies' nappies and clothes as necessary and make up bottles for feeds. They plan, prepare and serve children's meals and supervise children during meals. They mend, wash and iron children's clothes and tidy their rooms. They also provide, supervise and participate in children's indoor and outdoor play activities to promote their development. They take children to participate in play groups or on appropriate outings. They also take older children to and from school. They maintain appropriate records of children's development. They comply with regulations set by OFSTED and their inspection requirements.

Educational Psychologist

Psychologists research, study and assess emotional, cognitive and behavioural processes and abnormalities in human beings and animals and how these are affected by genetic, physical and social factors.

What’s Involved?

Educational Psychologists develop and administer tests to measure intelligence, abilities, aptitudes, etc. and assess results. They develop treatments and guidance methods and give treatment or guidance using a variety of therapy and counselling techniques. They observe and experiment on humans and animals to measure mental and physical characteristics. They also analyse the effect of hereditary, social and physical factors on thought and behaviour. They study psychological factors in the treatment and prevention of mental illness or emotional and personality disorders. They also maintain required contacts with family members, education or other health professionals, as appropriate, and recommend possible solutions to problems presented. They apply professional knowledge and techniques within the workplace, addressing issues such as job design, work groups, motivation etc. They apply psychological treatment methods to help athletes achieve optimum mental health and enhance sporting performance.

Special Needs Education Professional

Special needs education teaching professionals organise and provide instruction at a variety of different levels to children who have emotional, behavioural or learning difficulties or physical disabilities. These professionals may also work with exceptionally gifted pupils.

What’s Involved?

A Special Needs Education Professional creates a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment for students; assesses student's abilities, identifies student's needs and devises curriculum and rota of teaching duties accordingly; gives instruction, using techniques appropriate to the student's handicap; develops and adapts conventional teaching methods to meet the individual student's needs; encourages the student to develop self-help skills to circumvent the limitations imposed by their disability; prepares, assigns and corrects exercises to record and evaluate students progress; supervises students in classroom and maintains discipline; liaises with other professionals, such as social workers, speech and language therapists and educational psychologists; updates and maintains students' records to monitor development and progress; discusses student's progress with parents and other teaching professionals.

Au Pair

Childminders, au pairs and related occupations provide day-to-day care of children within a domestic setting, and supervise and participate in their play, educational and other activities.

What’s Involved?

An Au Pair assists children to wash and dress; changes babies' nappies and clothes as necessary and makes up bottles for feeds; plans, prepares and serves children's meals and supervises children during meals; mends, washes and irons children's clothes and tidies their rooms; provides, supervises and participates in children's indoor and outdoor play activities to promote their development; takes children to participate in play groups or on appropriate outings; takes older children to and from school; maintains appropriate records of children's development; complies with regulations set by OFSTED and their inspection requirements.

Nanny

A nanny is an in-home childcare provider that has a close relationship with the children and families they work for. While daycare centres only offer childcare within certain hours of the day, nannies are often live-in additional support people that play a large role in the lives of the children they take care of.

What’s Involved?

A Nanny assists children to wash and dress; changes babies' nappies and clothes as necessary and makes up bottles for feeds; plans, prepares and serves children's meals and supervises children during meals; mends, washes and irons children's clothes and tidies their rooms; provides, supervises and participates in children's indoor and outdoor play activities to promote their development; takes children to participate in play groups or on appropriate outings; takes older children to and from school; maintains appropriate records of children's development; complies with regulations set by OFSTED and their inspection requirements.

Paediatric Nurse

Paediatric nurses provide specialist nursing care for children. The majority of the UK's paediatric nurses are employed by the NHS, while the rest are employed by private clinics, hospices, charities, schools, community health centres and other healthcare service providers.

What’s Involved?

A Paediatric Nurse assists medical doctors and works with other healthcare professionals to deal with emergencies and pre-planned treatment of patients; manages own case load; monitors patient's progress, administers drugs and medicines, applies surgical dressings and gives other forms of treatment; participates in the preparation for physical and psychological treatment of mentally ill patients; plans duty rotas and organises and directs the work and training of ward and theatre nursing staff; advises on nursing care, disease prevention, nutrition, etc. and liaises with hospital board/ management on issues concerning nursing policy; plans, manages, provides and evaluates nursing care services for patients, supervises the implementation of nursing care plans; delivers lectures and other forms of formal training relating to nursing practice.

Predicted Employment

How much can I earn?

£17,680
NATIONAL AVERAGE

Employment by Region

The career paths provided are to give you an idea of the careers that you could progress onto in the future. However, for some, you may need to complete higher level qualifications and gain experience before your dream job becomes a reality. The information provided is to support further research and to generate some initial career ideas when choosing a course. Please check entry requirements to degree courses, apprenticeships, and jobs as this may vary from year to year and across providers. For further advice and guidance, please contact: careers@solihull.ac.uk.