The Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Early Childhood Development allows you to engage in a broad investigation of the children’s care and education sector. The course involves a work placement in a nursery or primary school which will help you gain knowledge of working with children from birth up to eight years and help inform your College studies.
We will follow the Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Early Childhood Development (AAQ) specification.
“I am pleased that I took childcare because the content I’m learning is helping me to understand everything I need to know for the job that I want to do in the future – working in the childcare sector. I’ve enjoyed learning about all the different things children need to grow and develop healthily and happily. Some of these things I wouldn’t have thought of before beginning this course. If I had the chance to do anything differently it would be to make better use of lesson time so that I was less stressed when my teacher wasn’t on hand.”
Hannah
Mrs Bewick
Head of Early Childhood Development
You must have a definite interest in working with children up to the age of eight. This qualification would be taken alongside two other A Levels. Subjects that complement Early Childhood Development include Sociology, Psychology, Biology, English and Health and Social Care. Early Childhood Development could lead to careers in areas such as nursing, teacher training or social work.
Content
The course is made up of four units – two examined and two internally assessed.
- Children’s development: children’s developmental progress from birth up to eight years, including the theories, principles and factors relating to development, and the potential impact of a range of factors on a child’s progress through developmental milestones.
- Keeping children safe: health and safety and safeguarding responsibilities of an individual working in an early years setting, including emergency best practices and when to address concerns about a child’s welfare.
- Play and learning: the concept of play, the influences of theories and approaches to play, and the benefits of play and learning activities for children.
- Research and reflective practice: the influence of research findings on policy and provisions for children and how this influences the behaviours and expectations of an individual working in an early years setting.
Assessment
The units on Children’s development and Keeping children safe will be assessed with an exam and make up 50% of the BTEC. The units on Play and learning and Research and reflective practive will be assessed internally and make up the remaining 50%.
Entry Requirements
Minimum 44444.
Back to all courses