CHILDREN'S CARE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT Level 3 Diploma

Level 3
Further Education
Armagh Campus
Newry Campus
Lurgan Campus
CACHE

Overview

The Level 3 Children's Care Learning and Development Diploma is a one year full time qualification which is designed to help learners build the knowledge and skills needed when working with children up to the age of 5 years 11 months. It covers a diverse range of job roles and occupational areas in children’s settings including early years. It is suitable for those who wish to work, or are working at an unsupervised level, in children’s care, learning and development in Northern Ireland. The qualification confirms competence in these areas and serves as the required qualification for all new practitioners for registration and regulatory requirements in Northern Ireland.

This qualification aims to:

Focus on the study of children’s care, learning and development in Northern Ireland.
Offer breadth and depth of study, incorporating a key core of knowledge.
Provide opportunities to acquire a number of practical and technical skills.

The objective of this qualification is to:

Build knowledge and skills needed to work with children in Northern Ireland.

All learners MUST have access to either employment or work experience in a real work setting to support them to develop and practice their skills, and apply their knowledge at an appropriate level. This ensures that learners are able to demonstrate consistent competence at Level 3 to meet the requirements of the Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Northern Ireland).

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age on or before 1st July 2026 and have recently been in education to Key Stage 4 (completion of compulsory education).
The College will review the qualifications and/or experience held by applicants and will consider whether this profile shows an ability to progress towards a level 3 qualification.
Applicants must have achieved the following:

15 points or greater at GCSE, consisting of at least 4 GCSE at Grade C (or equivalent qualification profile from the Register of Regulated Qualifications). In certain circumstances the College may reduce this requirement if it is deemed that the candidate has demonstrated the commitment, understanding and knowledge of the subject OR
BTEC Level 2 Diploma or equivalent at Pass or above with an overall profile equating to 15 points OR
NVQ Level 2 (in relevant subject area) OR
Leaving Certificate – a profile equivalent to 12 points (of which 3 subjects must be achieved at Grade C3 or better at Ordinary Level) pre-2017. From 2017 onwards, 3 subjects must be achieved at 04 or better at Ordinary Level AND
GCSE English Grade C or above (or equivalent).

Attendance at Individual or Group Pre-Entry Advice Sessions (IPEAS and GPEAS) may be required. These interviews may take place either on campus, via telephone or video call (Microsoft teams) and will play an important role in the selection of all courses.
Applicants who do not possess GCSE English Language at Grade C or higher (or equivalent) must be able to demonstrate as part of their application they can communicate in written and spoken English language to an acceptable level to succeed in the course. The College reserves the right to refer any applicant to appropriate English language or literacy classes until their level of fluency in written and spoken English is sufficient to allow participation in other areas of study.
Applicants with a Grade D or below in Maths will also have the opportunity to undertake Maths GCSE as part of their programme.

Applicants to this particular course must also:

Provide a reference from current employer/academic setting.
Secure and complete a work placement throughout the duration of the qualification before certification.
Have access to either employment or work experience in a real work setting to support them to develop and practice their skills and apply their knowledge at an appropriate level. This ensures that learners are able to demonstrate consistent competence at level 3 to meet the requirements of the Level 3 Diploma for Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Northern Ireland) units.
Undergo initial assessment against the requirements of the qualification, and this must be documented. An individual learning plan can then be produced.
Complete an Access NI check and additional vetting as required per setting i.e. medical, reference checks and social service checks. Applicants and learners will be subject to the Professional Suitability and Fitness to Practise Policy.

Work Setting

The work setting must be either a regulated (via social services) or an inspected (via social services or the Education and Training Inspectorate) early years setting. This means that the learner must have access to working with children aged from 0–5 years and 11 months for all of their practice/placement hours. Appropriate settings, including Irish-medium schools, would be:

Registered childminding settings –working with children up to 5 years 11 months
Playgroups
Day care nurseries
Statutory nursery settings
Early years foundation stage provision up to the age of 5 years 11 months
Sure Start provision

The above requirement cannot be met by time spent with children within a learner’s family/extended family, babysitting or through other informal arrangements.

Vetting Process

This course involves working with children, young people and vulnerable adults. To assess suitability to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults it is our policy to ask for a criminal record check to be carried out by AccessNI. Therefore, Southern Regional College requires checks to be completed at an ‘Enhanced’ level. Please visit our information page for further detail on the requirements and obligations for the AccessNI process.

Applicants and learners will also be subject to the Professional Suitability and Fitness to Practice Policy.

To be awarded this qualification learners are required to successfully complete 70 credits overall, 56 credits from the mandatory units and 14 credits from the optional units.

Units of study include:

Context and principles for the early years sector – Theme 1
Communication and partnership working – Theme 2
Safeguarding children – Theme 3
Keeping children safe, healthy and well – Theme 4
Support children’s personal care and nutrition – Theme 5
Supporting children’s development – Theme 6
Supporting children’s play opportunities and experiences of play – Theme 7
Contribute to the support of children with disabilities and/or special needs – Theme 8
Understand the needs of children and young people who are vulnerable and experiencing poverty and disadvantage - Theme 9
Support children with learning disabilities - Theme 16
Support the learning and development of children with health needs -Theme 12

Learners must complete both the competence and knowledge-based qualification, along with the mandatory Maths GCSE qualification ( if needed).

This qualification is internally assessed and externally quality assured through a portfolio of evidence. Assessment includes written evidence, reports, presentations, reflective discussions and placement observations. Students are required to successfully achieve all to secure this qualification.

Fees for trips undertaken during the induction period for this course may apply at an approx. cost of £20.

Upon successful completion of diploma units, learners can apply for:

Children's Care, Learning & Development Level 3 Extended Diploma (Top Up)
Other short professional development courses relating to childcare
Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning Certificate
Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork

Upon successful completion of the Children's Care Learning and Development Level 3 Diploma, participants will be equipped with the foundational skills and knowledge required to pursue further qualifications or seek positions in the early childhood education and care sector. This may include roles such as room supervisors, team leaders or deputy management roles.