The Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) prepares learners to become Early Years Educators, enabling them to work with children from birth to 5 years and gain knowledge of children aged 5 to 7 years.

• Theme 1: Health and well-being
• Theme 2: Legislation, frameworks and professional practice
• Theme 3: Play, development and learning for school readiness

Learners must achieve:

• 23 mandatory units
• Guided Learning 486 (hours)
• Total Qualification Time 610 (hours)

To gain this qualification the learner will need to:

• Pass all units
• Complete longitudinal study
• Show competence in a real work environment

Placements are required for achievement of this qualification. A minimum of 350 placement hours is required. During placement, learners will need support from a professional within the real work environment who will be required to complete professional development records.

This qualification will take 12months to complete

Learners can progress to the Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner or other higher level early years qualifications.

Learners will need to be working, volunteering or on practical placement to show competence in both knowledge and skills. We recommend learners complete 250 placement hours whilst undertaking this qualification.

Placement opportunity must allow for skills application with babies and young children sufficient to meet the assessment criteria for the qualification.

This qualification allows progression on to the Level 3 Early Years Educator qualifications and other relevant Level 3 qualifications relating to early years and child care.

This qualification allows a learner to count towards the Level 2 ratio as a qualified Level 2 Early Years Practitioner across the Early Years Workforce.
Learners may work under supervision in a variety of roles such as:
• nursery practitioner
• classroom assistant
• pre-school practitioner.