NCFE CACHE Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner
Course Code
OSC1439
Are you passionate about working with young children and inspiring the next generation? This NCFE CACHE Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner is the perfect way to started.
- This Level 2 Early Years Practitioner course provides you with a solid understanding of working with children aged 0-7.
- Once you have completed this qualification, you can work in a range of childcare settings under supervision, or progress to studying the subject at level 3.
Save £5058 when you buy this course as a package
Save £5258 when you buy this course as a package
Course overview
This NCFE CACHE Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner course is perfect for those looking to work in a role within a nursery or early years setting.
The course has been designed to provide you with a sound understanding of how to provide adequate care for babies and young children aged between birth to seven years old.
During this level 2 early years practitioner course, you will explore how you can provide safeguarding and protection for children in your care, how your role can support the stages of a child’s development, how to plan and deliver activities that support the child’s education, and more.
Please note that you will need to be working, volunteering, or on practical placement in an early years setting to study this course. The recommended number of placement hours for this course is 250 hours. It is essential you secure a placement that can provide you with a suitably qualified level three mentor.
An Open Study College assessor will need to observe you in your placement and sign off workplace evidence relating to your placement.
What next?
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to work under supervision in a range of childcare settings or progress onto other relevant level three qualifications. Roles you can achieve once you have competed this course include:
- Early years practitioner
- Nursery assistant
- Pre-school assistant
- Childcare assistant
- Playgroup assistant
- Early childhood educator
Course Duration
12 months.
Course Outcome
Upon successful completion of this qualification, you will receive a level 2 diploma for the early years practitioner from NCFE CACHE. You will then be able to enter the workforce as a qualified level 2 early years practitioner.
Entry Requirements
There are no specific entry requirements, but it is advised that students have a minimum level 2 in literacy and numeracy or equivalent. You will need to be aged at least 16 to enrol on this course.
Assessment
Tutor-marked assignments and workplace observations.
Course content
- Understand the roles of early years practitioner.
- Be able to locate policies and procedure in an early years setting.
- Be able to communicate with babies, young children, and others.
- Understand factors impacting communication in practice.
- Understand working relationships in early years settings.
- Understand why continuing professional development (CPD) is integral to the role of the early years practitioner.
- Demonstrate continuing professional development (CPD).
- Understand policies and procedures for health and safety in early years settings.
- Understand risk management in early years settings.
- Be able to identify hazards in an early years setting.
- Be able to manage risk within an early years setting in line with statutory requirements.
- Understand how to identify and record accidents, incidents and emergencies.
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of the early years practitioner in recognising allergies and intolerances in babies and young children.
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of the early years practitioner recognising signs and symptoms of illness in babies and young children.
- Be able to access documentation in the event of accidents, incidents, or emergencies.
- Understand legislation and statutory guidance for practice in the early years.
- Understand how policies and procedures inform equality, diversity, and inclusive practice.
- Be able to work in ways which support equality, diversity, and inclusive practice in an early years setting.
- Understanding legislation and guidelines for the safeguarding, protection, and welfare of babies and young children.
- Understand whistleblowing.
- Understand how to respond to evidence or concerns that a baby or a child has been or is at risk of serious harm or abuse.
- Be able to locate policies and procedures for safeguarding babies and young children.
- Understand the stages of child development from birth to seven years.
- Understand influences on children’s learning and development.
- Understand the importance of attachment for holistic development.
- Understand the needs of babies and young children during transitions.
- Understand the care needs of babies and young children.
- Understand hygienic practice in relation to control of infection in early years settings in line with statutory requirements.
- Be able to use hygienic practice to minimise the spread of infection in early years settings.
- Understand rest and sleep needs of children.
- Understand childhood immunisation.
- Be able to meet the care needs of babies and young children as appropriate to their development, stage, dignity, and needs.
- Know about adult and child initiated play.
- Be able to follow statutory requirements for learning and development in an early years setting.
- Be able to support babies and young children through purposeful play activities and educational programmes.
- Understand the play environment.
- Understand how the early years practitioner supports children’s behaviour and socialisation within play environments.
- Be able to promote positive behaviour.
- Be able to support different types of play for babies and young children.
- Understand the impact of food and nutrition on children’s health and development.
- Understand healthy balanced diets and hydration.
- Be able to support the nutrition and hydration of babies and young children in an early years setting.
- Understand the impact of health and well-being on babies and young children’s development.
- Understand individuals’ dietary requirements and preferences.
- Be able to support healthy eating in an early years setting.
- Understand babies and young children’s need to be physically active.
- Be able to support babies and young children to be physically active in an indoor and outdoor space.
- Be able to support physical activity in an early years setting.
- Understand statutory guidance in relation to the care and education of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
- Understand how children learn and develop in the early years.
- Understand the impact of transition.
- Understand best practice for meeting the individual needs of young children.
- Be able to plan to meet the individual stages of babies and young children.
- Be able to work in partnership.
- Understand policies and procedures relating to positive behaviour in early years settings.
- Be able to support positive behaviour.
- Be able to follow policy and procedure for behaviour within an early years setting.
- Be able to reflect on own role in relation to managing children’s behaviour in an early years setting.
- Understand the principles of partnership working in relation to current frameworks when working with babies and young children.
- Understand how to work in partnership.
- Be able to work alongside parents/carers, colleagues and other professionals.
- Understand challenges to partnership working.
- Understand recording, storing and sharing information in relation to partnership working.
- Understand the role of the early years Practitioner during transition to school.
- Understand how working in partnership with others contributes to children’s wellbeing during transition to school.
- Be able to support children’s language and communication needs in preparation for school.
- Be able to support children’s mathematical development in preparation for school.
Extra info
Course duration
Once enrolled, you have one year of tutor support to complete your studies.
Study method
Your course will be studied through distance learning, which will enable you to take control of your studies. You can study at your own pace from a place that suits you.
The course materials can either be emailed online or posted to you as a study pack, depending on which you select at enrolment. You will receive your tutor support by email.
Assessment
A series of self-assessments, a practice test, and a final online assessment.
Course outcome
Upon successful completion of this qualification, you will achieve a NCFE CACHE Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner. You will then be able to enter the workforce as a qualified Level 2 early years practitioner where they can work under supervision in a range of roles or progress into further study.
Awarding body
NCFE is a leading provider of vocational and technical courses as well as an educational charity. With over 170 years of experience in providing an outstanding educational experience, NCFE work with industry experts to create smarter solutions to the greatest learning needs.
They are one of the largest technical and vocational awarding bodies in the United Kingdom and their qualifications are awarded to thousands of people each year.
In 2015, CACHE (The Council for Awards in Care, Health, and Education) became a part of NCFE.
Once you have enrolled on your course, you will be entitled to access the CACHE Alumni Membership for two years. CACHE Alumni is a professional membership network for those who work in the CACHE industries, providing valuable resources and advice to professionals studying towards/with a CACHE qualification.
Q&As
Yes, you will need to be working, volunteering, or on practical placement as you need to show competence in both knowledge and skills. The recommended number of placement hours for this course is 250 hours.
It is important that your work placement is across the age range from birth to five years old. It is essential you secure a placement that can provide you with a suitably qualified level three mentor.
An Open Study College assessor will need to observe you in your placement and sign off workplace evidence relating to your placement.
Placement opportunity must allow for sufficient skills application with babies and young children to meet the assessment criteria for the qualification.
You will have 12 months of tutor support to complete this course.
- Expert personal tutor support
- Dedicated student support
- Assignment marking and feedback
- FREE CV critique service
- FREE employability guide to help you impress future employers
- FREE XO Student Discounts card
- Study pack including pen, highlighter, and notebook*.
*Exclusive Open Study College study pack including pen, highlighter, and notebook.
It's not a problem. We offer a course replacement service, so if you get into trouble and your course pack is lost or damaged, our Student Support Team can provide you with a new set of materials for a one-time additional fee.
That's not a problem. We want to make sure you're 100% confident about enrolling on the course and starting your study. So, just give our team of education specialists a call on 03300 563 100 and they'll do their best to help.