Early Learning and Childcare

Early Learning and Childcare

Children and Young People’s Workforce (Early Learning & Childcare)

From September 2010 two significant changes to qualifications for people working  (or planning to work) in the Child Care sector have taken place. These are to be fully implemented from January 2011 and are:

1. The introduction of a new national qualifications system called Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) which provides for a credit based system of qualification accreditation where student will study units of learning and obtain credits for them towards nationally recognised qualifications.

2. The introduction of new qualifications for the child care sector, overseen by the Sector Skills Council.

The result of these changes is that people looking to qualify to work in the sector will be expected to obtain a competence base qualification which assesses knowledge, understanding and skill in an agreed range of subject areas. Because the skills elements MUST be assessed in the workplace by a professionally qualified person it will in future be necessary for students to complete a series of practical workplace assessments in order to achieve a full qualification.  This cannot be undertaken by distance learning but in order to make progress students can learn and be assessed on a range of knowledge and understanding elements, by a distance learning method.

Consequently the course we offer enables student to complete a range of units which teaches much of the essential knowledge and understanding required. On completion of this course, students will need to complete further study and assessment under the guidance of a workplace assessor, but will have gained a solid foundation of knowledge on which they have been assessed.

The new QCF, referred to above, incorporates the principle of Recognition of Prior Learning whereby students can claim credit or exemption for prior learning and on completion of this course you will be provided with a detailed statement of the units and learning outcomes achieved.  This will then enable you to request credit or exemption for elements of the qualification required to practice in the sector.

The new QCF qualification being introduced is the Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (Early Learning & Child Care pathway). This is based upon achieving credits drawn from a range of mandatory and optional units. The Study House distance learning programme is fully mapped to the new qualification, and provides knowledge and understand assessment for 12 study units.

This means that through this course of study, students can gain a broad understanding of key elements of the child care role and progress as far as possible by distance learning and receive accreditation for your work.  You can then complete a full qualification in the workplace through additional assessment, whilst gaining credit for the units completed by distance learning.

Click here to read more about child care related career paths