- Framework:
- Childcare
- Level:
- 2/3
This framework is to provide occupational competence and develop knowledge and skills for people who work with young children (and their families) in settings or services (primarilythose in early years) that focus on children’s care, play, learning and development.
This framework may also be suitable for some early years health care support workers, specifically those working in Flying Start Settings. It is suitable for people seeking to join the early years or children's care, play, learning and development or early years child specific health sector, and provides training and development opportunities for workers already employed within the sector.
The settings that deliver child care are diverse and it is not possible to list them all, but the following are examples:
• Daycare
• Crèches
• Childminders’ own homes
• Extended schools
• Pre-schools/ playgroups/ Cylchoedd Meithrin (Welsh medium playgroups)
• Primary care
• Community based services including Integrated Child Care Centres
• Flying Start programmes
The job titles vary from employer to employer but at Level 2 – you will be working under supervision in roles such as a nursery assistant worker/practitioner or playgroup/assistant practitioner or cynorthwydd cylch.
Level 3 – you will work on own initiative, planning and organising your work and/or supervising others.
Pathway options and levels
Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development Level 2
Supports the job role of Nursey Assistant, Cynorthwydd Cylch, Out-of-School Childcare Assistant, Playgroup Assistant, Crèche Assistant and Early Years Health Support Assistant.
Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development Level 3
Supports the job role of Manager, Nursery Practitioner, Senior Nursery Practitioner/Room Leader, Child Minder, Integrated Children's Centre Practitioner, Crèche Leader/Practitioner and Early Years Health Support Workers.
Further information
Duration
Level 2: 12 months
Level 3: 18 months
Progression routes
Level 2: Routes include:
- Further training and development
- Moving to other parts of the sector, for example a worker specialising inworking with toddlers may wish to increase their knowledge and skills in working with babies,or working with children with sensory loss or disabilities.
- Following additional training and learning workers may move to either teaching assistant
- Learning support jobs (at level 3) or playwork jobs at levels 2 or 3.
Level 3: Routes include:
- Employment
- Further training and development
- Further and higher education
- Early Years foundation degrees and degrees (EYPS) available across
Qualifications
Level 2: Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development.
Level 3: Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development.
What are the entry requirements for this pathway?
All apprenticeship pathways in Wales have entry requirements.
If you are interested in undertaking this pathway – you need to have the following entry level qualification(s);
Level 2
There are no formal learning entry conditions for this framework. However, you must have an interest and commitment to working with children (particularly young children) and be suitable to do so.
Potential apprentices must have an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. Employers in child care carry out DBS checks, and certain offences may disqualify potential apprentices from employment and thus automatically preclude them from completing the framework. You should therefore discuss any relevant matters with your employer prior to enrollment. This is a requirement of safeguarding regulations.
Level 2: No formal entry requirements.
Level 3
There are no formal learning entry conditions for this framework. However, you must have an interest and commitment to working with children (particularly young children) and be suitable to do so.
Potential apprentices must have an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. Employers in child care carry out DBS checks, and certain offences may disqualify potential apprentices from employment and thus automatically preclude them from completing the framework. You should therefore discuss any relevant matters with your employer prior to enrollment. This is a requirement of safeguarding regulations.
Level 3: While there are no additional entry requirements for this framework it should be noted that the integrated qualification within this framework requires the collection of evidence from actual work activities and therefore people undertaking the level 3 qualifications must be undertaking tasks that meet the level 3 descriptors in order to complete the qualification.
In order to complete the mandatory units, apprentices must be working with children under 8 years old.
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