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Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators

The aim of this qualification is to prepare you to become an early years educator, enabling you to work with children from birth to five years and gain knowledge of children aged five to seven years. After completing this qualification, you should be able to enter the workforce.

 

Course details

This is an NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator).

This is a full time course which will include a work placement. It runs for a full year.

Before you can be accepted onto this course, you will need to complete an assessment and attend an interview.

 

On this course you will complete ten units:

Introduction to the Role of the Early Years Educator: this unit explores the role and responsibilities of the reflective early years educator whilst appreciating the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) required for effective engagement within the role. During the delivery of this unit, you should be exposed to the significance of sustainability in practice where appropriate.

Holistic Child Development: this unit explores holistic development and key milestones for babies and children, including the significance of experience and personal circumstance.

Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND): this unit explores legislation and guidance to support the increasing awareness and confidence of the early years educator to support babies, children and their families when facilitating nurturing environments for babies and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Effective Communication in an Early Years Setting: this unit explores the significance of communication for learning and holistic development in all babies and children.

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: this unit explores how the early years educator safeguards children, including the wider aspects of child protection, reporting and record keeping. There are opportunities to consider sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 and 6 when exploring the welfare requirements.

Health, Wellbeing and Safety: this unit explores the relationship between legislation, policy and procedure, with further focus on your own role and responsibilities with regard to the health, wellbeing and safety of babies and children. You should be mindful of energy-saving approaches to sustainability when considering health, wellbeing and safety, for example, energy-efficient approaches and wellbeing strategies.

Promoting an Effective Early Years Curriculum: this unit explores the early years statutory framework offered through the early years foundation stage (EYFS) and the implications for embedding effective characteristics of teaching and learning for all children.

Assessment of Children’s Learning and Development: this unit explores the assessment opportunities applied by early years educators to ensure the unique needs of each baby and child are understood and valued.

Understanding Play for Learning and Holistic Development: this unit explores the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to be able to plan, lead and review play experiences that support babies’ and children’s learning and development whilst fostering a positive approach to sustainability.

Partnership Working: this unit explores partnership working, including benefits, challenges and complexities of professional collaboration.

Beginning September 2026.

 

Additional support

By completing this course, you’ll gain access to free employment support. You will work one-on-one with an employment advisor to:

• improve your CV
• search and apply for jobs
• prepare for interviews
• and more!

As an Ofsted rated Exceptional provider for Inclusion, we have a team of dedicated staff who will work with you to understand your needs and ensure we have the right support put in place. We have an ambitious approach to inclusion that ensures learners, especially those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND),those who are financially disadvantaged, and those known to social care, are supported to thrive, belong and achieve regardless of their background or individual needs.

We do this in a range of ways, for example:

• providing financial support for travel where needed
• small classroom sizes
• adaptive technology
• targeted programmes with the local authority

 

Where can this course take me?

This will help prepare you for employment in roles such as:

• Educator in day nurseries
• Educator in nursery schools
• Educator in reception classes in primary schools
• Pre-school worker

You may also decide to go onto a Level 3 Extended Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector, or a Level 4 or 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner.

 

Eligibility 

To join this course, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• live in London
• have the right to live and work in the UK
• be 19 years old or older as of 31 August 2026
• not be in full-time education
• not be on a student visa, skilled worker, or sponsored visa
• be unemployed or low income (earning below £28,860 per annum)

Additional eligibility criteria may apply.

 

If you are interested

Please complete the form in the link below to register your interest. If you would like to contact us for any reason, please email us at thehivetraining@poplarharca.co.uk or call 020 7510 9770.

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Apply for this course