CHILDREN'S CARE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT Level 3 Extended Diploma (Top Up)

Level 3
Further Education
Armagh Campus
Newry Campus
CACHE

Overview

This course is suitable for any learner who wishes to work with children up to the age of 5 years 11 months and wishes to progress to higher education. The qualification builds on the knowledge acquired on the Level 3 Diploma Children's Care Learning and Development and carries UCAS points.

The objective of the Children's Care, Learning, and Development Level 3 Extended Diploma (Top Up) is to enhance participants' knowledge and skills in the area of children's learning and development and provide them with extended knowledge and skills to allow progression onto higher education.

The qualification aims to focus on the study of children’s care, learning and development in settings in Northern Ireland while offering a breadth and depth of study, incorporating a key core of knowledge. It also provides opportunities to acquire a number of practical and technical skills.

Throughout the programme, participants will deepen their understanding of child development theories, pedagogical approaches, and best practices in early childhood education. They will explore topics such as child psychology, inclusive practice, observation and assessment, curriculum planning, safeguarding, and promoting positive behaviour in children. The diploma will also provide opportunities for participants to develop their leadership and management skills in the context of early years settings.

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age on or before 1st July in the year of proposed entry to the course 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:

Children's Care, Learning & Development Level 3 Diploma
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.
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 level.

Applicants to this 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.
Provide clear evidence of completed placement hours from the Level 3 Diploma qualification (570 hours if Level 2 qualification held or experience in the last 2 years) (600-700 hours if no previous experience).
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 for Children’s Care, Learning and Development units.
All learners must undergo initial assessment against the requirements of the qualification.
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, or Sure Start provision. This requirement cannot be met by time spent with children within a learner’s family/extended family, babysitting or through other informal arrangements.

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.

Students entering a full time Level 3 programme are expected to have already achieved a minimum of GCSE Grade C in English Language and Mathematics (or equivalent qualification). Applicants admitted to a full-time programme of study without these qualifications in English Language and Mathematics will be required to undertake an Essential Skills course in Literacy and Numeracy respectfully. Applicants with a Grade D will also have the opportunity to undertake repeat classes in GCSE English Language and/or Mathematics.

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 achieve this qualification learner's are required to have already achieved 56 credits from the 8 Diploma Mandatory Units and 14 credits from 13 Diploma Optional Units.

For this top-up qualification, learners will achieve 66 credits from the 7 Extended Diploma graded Mandatory Units and 1 External Assessment.

Units of study include:

Developing study skills for professional practice
Enabling play environments
Partnership working in early years
Understanding perspectives on childhood in society
Understand the role of the practitioner when supporting children with special educational needs and disability
Understanding neuroscience in early years
Planning for improved outcomes when working with babies and children in an early years setting

This qualification is internally assessed and externally quality assured. The assessment consists of 2 components:

An internally assessed portfolio of evidence which is assessed by College staff.
An externally quality assured assessment by NCFE, externally set and assessed extended assessment.

Competence on work placement is also assessed.

Learners must be successful in all components to gain the Level 3 Extended Diploma for Children’s Care Learning and Development.

The Extended Diploma units are graded A-D.

Further information can be found here

Upon achievement of this qualification, learners may be able to access higher education. Successful students can apply for the following courses offered at SRC:

Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons) Degree
Early Childhood Studies Level 5 Foundation Degree
Leadership for Children's Care, Learning & Development (Management) Level 5 Diploma
Transition to Playwork CACHE Level 3 Award

Upon successful completion of the Children's Care, Learning, and Development Level 3 Extended Diploma (Top Up), participants will have enhanced their knowledge and skills in early childhood education and care, qualifying them for specialised roles in the field. Students may pursue careers as early years practitioners, nursery managers, room leaders, special educational needs coordinators, or early years consultants.