T Level Early Years Education and Childcare (September 2027 Start)

The T Level in Education and Early Years will provide learners with the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to progress into skilled employment or higher-level technical training or university level study in the Education and Early Years sector. This is a 2 year programme where you cover your core elements in the first year and you will choose your occupational specialism in the 2nd year. This occupational specialism qualification meets the Early Years Educator Competencies and has been recognised and approved by the Department for Education - this is the licence to practice in the Early Years industry.

During The T level programme you will commence industry placements within our range of provisions, in Either Early Years or Primary Settings, where you will focus on key elements of effective practice, work alongside the key person to develop skills and competencies of supporting a group of children. This will be at least 750 hours over the two year period. (Two days per week)

You will be expected to build a small portfolio of your skills and knowledge in preparation for external assessments and observations of practice.

Please note: A valid Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is mandatory and must be completed before the placement begins. 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.

Successful completion of this qualification is recognised within the Early Years industry, which means you will be able to be counted in EYFS staff child ratios, have a group of key children and hold a supervisory capacity within a setting. A Teaching Assistant pathway can lead you to a role within a school as a teaching assistant. You will also be able to progress onto an Early Years/Education/Primary Teaching access to higher education course or a foundation degree.

Over the two year period you will learn a range of practical skills in your industry placement as well as key knowledge to support you within Primary and Early years settings. These range from working with parents and professionals, safeguarding children, curriculum content, Special Educational needs and disabilities (SEND), history of education, observation planning and assessment.

Minimum of a grade 5 in GCSE English and Maths or a level 2 progression Maths and English at grade 4.

Learners will experience both classroom-based and practical learning through college and industry placement. The Technical Qualification (TQ) is the main classroom-based element of the course and consists of two components: The ‘Core’, which provides students with the knowledge that underpins the industry including child development from 0-19 , behaviour, observation and assessment, Equality and diversity, health and safety, working with parents/carers and families, safeguarding, supporting education provisions from Early Years, Primary and secondary, special educational needs and disability, English as an additional language and reflective practice. The ‘occupation’ specialism of Early Years educator specialist Where we focus on Early Years (0-5 years), where we will then focus on play, building relationships with children, safeguarding and keeping children safe, planning and preparing for all children and finally partnership working with a variety of professionals. A significant component of the occupational specialism is the industrial placement which will last for a minimum of 715 hours during the 2-year period The other occupational specialism is Assisting teaching, where you would cover supporting the teacher to enhance education, plan educational opportunities, safeguarding in the school environment, working with children with additional needs and disabilities to support access to the primary curriculum.

During your course you will have to pay a non refundable resource fee that supports your programme of study, this fee is mandatory for the course and supports you to gain the following: T level Textbook for your specialism, Uniform for placement, Food hygiene , Paedatric first aid and two educational trips. £180.00 cost paid via Wisepay.

During your T level programme you will be assessed in several different ways, in your first year you will sit a knowledge based exam and a controlled assessment called the employer set project which is conducted over a 12 hour window. In the second year you will complete a case study exam and an observation in your industry placement known as your structured observation. On the Early Years specialism you will also be assessed through observations for your license to practice throughout the programme duration.

In order to study the T level you will need to have the following:

5 GCSE’s at the minimum grade of 5 and above, this must include your English Lit, Lang and Maths , you may also be expected to complete a group interview and complete a small diagnostic task to look at your level of current knowledge. If progressing from a level 2 qualification – you will need to hold your GCSE English and Maths at a 4 with a Level 2 Early Years/Education/Childcare qualification and at least 100 hours in placement as part of your qualification. Previous experience of work experience in a nursery/primary setting is an advantage as well as working with Guides/Beavers/Scouts.