Start Date
- September 2026, Full Time, Day
What You Will Study
If you are interested in a rewarding career nurturing, supporting, and educating young children during their most crucial developmental stages, this course could be for you. It’s ideal if you want to become a nursery practitioner, teaching assistant, or continue into further studies in early childhood education. You’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make a positive impact in children’s lives.
This course will support you to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills when caring for and supporting the learning and development of children under the age of twelve. You will cover a range of units including child development, play and learning, legislation and nutrition.
This is a two-year course where you will study not only the diploma, but also study additional professional qualifications including safeguarding, basic food hygiene and paediatric first aid. You will have the time to learn the theories and practise the practical application of becoming an early years practitioner. You will also create suitable crafts for children in early years. You will need to be able to work as a team and contribute to class activities. At the end of the course you will have achieved the competencies required to be included in ratio.
The course offers opportunities for local trips to venues such as The Forum and Norwich Castle. In the summer we enjoy a visit to a local attraction that would be suitable to visit with children 0-5 years.
Our team have strong links with nurseries and primary schools across Norfolk and Suffolk, offering year-round industry placements and sharing their considerable experience to support your learning and professional practice.
Entry Requirements
You will need to achieve a minimum of four GCSEs at grade 3 or above, including English language. You will also need to have achieved maths GCSE at grade 2 or above. Completion of a DBS check is required for all students to allow you to work with children in an early years setting as part of your industry placement.
How You Will Be Assessed
You will be assessed through written coursework and placement observation, and at the end of the course you will have achieved the competencies required to be included in ratio. Skills based outcomes must be achieved with reference to a real work environment and must include direct observation within the workplace. Learners will undertake a minimum of three workplace assessments over the two year programme.
Course Progression
You could progress onto higher level study or move into a supervised job role as a teaching assistant or early years educator. You may also consider an apprenticeship to further your training and experience.
Where Your Course Can Take You
Career opportunities include a primary school teacher and play therapist, childminder, nanny or holiday entertainer.
Fees
If you are a UK or home fee status student and aged 16-18 on the 31st August before the start of your course, tuition fees are free. If you are aged 19 and over fees may be payable.
