Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator)
Qualifi Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator), awarded by Qualifi and listed on the Ofqual register. The facts and unit list are below; the fuller account of what studying it with London School of Planning and Management involves is still being written.
Its 83 credits add nothing to a points total and will not satisfy a university offer expressed in points. What it does lead to is a Level 4 diploma delivered by London School of Planning and Management (LSPM), or first-year university entry where a university chooses to allow it. If you need Tariff points, this diploma is the wrong programme for you.
At a glance
- Level3 (RQF)
- Credits83
- Total qualification timeSee specification
- Guided learning hoursSee specification
- Awarding bodyQualifi
- Ofqual number610/0013/6
- Units15 mandatory, 0 optional
- UCAS TariffNone
- Duration9 months (standard) or 6 months (fast track)
- Study modesOnline, Blended, Evening classes
- FeesFrom £999 (9 months, standard) or £1,299 (6 months, fast track)
- Next intakeRolling intake — course starts when the fee is paid
Level, credits, hours, Ofqual number and unit list are taken from the Qualifi qualification specification (PDF) and the Ofqual register. Duration, study modes, fees and intake dates are set by LSPM, not by this site, and are confirmed by its admissions team.
What you study
15 mandatory units. There are no optional units, so every learner on the programme covers the same ground.
| # | Unit | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Supporting healthy lifestyles for children through food, nutrition and exercise | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 2 | Supporting physical care routines for children and for unwell children | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 3 | Promoting children’s emotional well-being, social and emotional development | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 4 | Understanding the needs of the mother and baby pre-conception, during pregnancy and the first year of life | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 5 | The role of the Early Years practitioner | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 6 | Legislation relating to Early Years practice | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 7 | Working in partnership | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 8 | Supporting children through play in Early Years | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 9 | Developing the literacy, mathematical and communication skills of children | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 10 | Understand the needs of the child in preparing for school | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 11 | Understanding children’s cognitive development | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 12 | Promoting the physical development of children | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 13 | Supporting children with additional needs | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 14 | Using studies and tools to promote the development of children | Mandatory | See spec. |
| 15 | Professional development for Early Years Educators | Mandatory | See spec. |
| Total | 15 units | 83 |
Unit titles and credit values from the Qualifi qualification specification (PDF). Where the specification does not state a credit value for a unit, the cell reads See spec.
Entry requirements
Qualifi sets the formal entry criteria for this qualification and LSPM, as the approved centre, applies them when it admits learners. As published by the awarding body:
- The qualification has been designed to be accessible without artificial barriers that restrict access and progression.
- Entry to the qualification will be through centre interview and applicants will be expected to be aged 16 or over and hold a Level 2 qualification.In certain circumstances, managers with considerable experience but no formal qualifications may be considered subject to interview and being able to demonstrate their ability to cope with the demands of the programme.
Source: the Qualifi qualification specification (PDF), which is the definitive statement of the awarding body's criteria. LSPM's admissions team decides eligibility; ask us first if you are unsure whether you meet them.
How you are assessed
Units are assessed by written assignment set by LSPM against the awarding body's learning outcomes. LSPM's tutors mark the work and moderate it internally, and Qualifi samples it externally before results are confirmed. The specification sets no timed examinations.
Assessment is regulated by Qualifi under Ofqual's conditions. How awarding bodies and regulation work.
Where it leads
Completing the Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator) qualifies you to progress to a Level 4 diploma delivered by LSPM, in education and teaching or a related subject. It carries no UCAS Tariff points. Any university that considers a holder for first-year entry does so at its own discretion, and we name none.
Also in Education and Teaching
Not sure which route fits? Ask someone who will tell you straight.
We are an independent agent, not LSPM's sales team, and we will say whether a UCAS application, an Access course or a Level 3 diploma is the better option for you, even when the answer earns this site nothing. Replies within two working days.