Childcare

Learning Programme Content

The Learning Programme provision shall comprise of three mandatory elements:

• Qualifications,
• Essential Skills
• On/off the job training

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 2 Pathway - Childcare - Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development is 77 credits

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 3 Pathway - Childcare - Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development is 92 credits

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 4 Pathway - Childcare - Professional Practice in Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development is ?? credits

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 5 Pathway - Childcare - Leadership and Management of Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development is ?? credits

Entry requirements

Level 2

Apprentices for this Pathway must have an interest and commitment to working with children (particularly young children) and be suitable to do so. It is anticipated that apprentices will come from a variety of previous experiences and opportunities:

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 Pathway. Potential apprentices should therefore discuss any relevant matters with their employer prior to enrolment. This is a requirement of safeguarding regulations.

Initial assessment of the suitability of apprentices for the programme must include, at a minimum, an indication that the apprentice accepts the principles and values that underpin working with children which are:

Principles

• The welfare of the child is paramount
• Practitioners contribute to children’s care, learning and development and this is reflected
• in every aspect of practice and service provision
• Practitioners work with parents and families and are partners in the care, learning and development of the children and are the child’s first and most enduring educators

Values

• The needs, rights and views of the child are at the centre of all practice and provision
• Individuality, difference and diversity are valued and celebrated
• Equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice are actively promoted
• Children’s health and well-being are actively promoted
• Children’s personal and physical safety is safeguarded, whilst allowing for risk and challenge as appropriate to the capabilities of the child
• Self-esteem, resilience and a positive self-image are recognised as essential to every child’s development;
• Confidentiality and agreements about confidential information are respected as appropriate unless a child’s protection and well-being are at stake
• Professional knowledge, skills and values are shared appropriately in order to enrich the experience of children more widely
• Best practice requires reflection and a continuous search for improvement.

Initial assessment may also include identifying in applicants:

• The ability to relate to children;
• Good communication skills with adults as well as children;
• Appropriate degree of personal confidence and maturity;
• An understanding of, and respect for, diversity, in terms of the make up of the family, racial origin, cultural beliefs and disability;
• An understanding of the need for confidentiality;
• A willingness to learn and reflect on their own practice the ability to assess situations and seek advice and support;
• The ability to remain calm in a crisis or an emergency;
• An awareness of the potential physical and emotional pressures of working with children;
• An awareness of the need for child protection and the potential for abuse;
• Literacy and numeracy skills;
• An awareness that children are individuals and develop at different rates;
• A commitment to complete the apprenticeship;
• An ability to work individually and within a flexible team;
• Some awareness of multi-disciplinary practices .

Level 3

Entry requirements for the Level 3 pathway are the same as for the Level 2. However apprentices must be operating at level 3:

It should be noted that the competence/integrated qualification within this Pathway 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.

Level 4 & Level 5

This Pathway provides a professional route to train and develop the leaders and managers in children's care, play, learning and development to the required regulatory standards. This is a workforce of people who support young vulnerable children and is regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales.

The Apprentice must be in a management or team leader / supervisory position, for example working as an assistant manager or senior care worker. Some employers may see this as an opportunity to develop their own future managers and offer ‘acting up’ positions for their staff who can be given additional responsibilities in order to complete the requirements of the qualifications.

The Pathway is primarily suitable for experienced childcare workers who have already completed the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Children’s Care Learning and Development or other approved Level 3 Diplomas Children’s Care Learning and Development or early years and child care course in full time education.

Apprenticeship pathway learning programme(s)

Level 2: Childcare - Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development

Level 2: Childcare - Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development Qualifications

Participants must achieve one of the following Competence / Practice and Knowledge /Core qualification(s) below

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh

On/Off the Job training

On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

Total Knowledge/Core CCPLD qualifications are a minimum of 30 credits, and the Competency/ Practice CCPLD qualifications a minimum of 35 credits. With the required ESQs at 12 credits.  This pathway has a total credit rating of 77

The total amount of training hours - which includes both on and off-the-job learning for this Pathway is 1450 training hours. (over 12 months)

On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

• 6 credits/45 GLH Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Communication
• 6 credits/45 GLH Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number

Level 3: Childcare - Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development

Level 3: Childcare - Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development Qualifications

Participants must achieve one of the following Competence / Practice and Knowledge /Core qualification(s) below.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh

On/Off the Job training

On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

On completion of the Knowledge/Core qualification, a minimum of 30 credits will be obtained, plus 50 credits for Competence/Practice Qualification the required transferable skills (ESW) 12 credits.  The total number of credits is therefore 92.

 The total amount of training hours - which includes both on and off-the-job learning for this Pathway is 1994 training hours. (over 18 months)

On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

• 6 credits/45 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Communication
• 6 credits/45 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number

Level 4: Childcare - Professional Practice in Professional Practice in Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development

Level 4: Childcare - Professional Practice in Professional Practice in Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development Qualifications

Participants must achieve one of the following Competence / Practice and Knowledge /Core qualification(s) below.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh

Level 5: Childcare - Leadership and Management of Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development

Level 5: Childcare - Leadership and Management of Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development Qualifications

Participants must achieve one of the following Competence / Practice and Knowledge /Core qualification(s) below.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-

Other additional requirements

Job roles

Nursey Assistant

Work with children and practitioners to support the physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social development of children. Work with children of pre-school age in a nursery setting (with a play based curriculum in Wales).

Cynorthwydd Cylch

Work with children and practitioners to support the physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social development of children. Work with children over 2 in cylch meithrin to promote the education and development of children to learn and socialise in a Welsh medium environment.

Out-of-School Childcare Assistant

Supports children and practitioners who work with children of school age in an out-of-school club setting (with a play based curriculum in Wales).

Playgroup Assistant

Supports children and practitioners who work with children over 2 in a pre school or playgroup setting. Support the education and development of children to learn and socialise.

Crèche Assistant

Work with children and practitioners to support the physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social development of children of pre-school age, in a crèche setting.

Early Years Health Support Assistant

Work with children and practitioners to support the health and wellbeing, the physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social development of children of pre-school age usually in Flying Start settings

Manager

The manager would be the person responsible for setting the operational direction and organising the effective running of the day care provision. The manager will normally be the “person in charge” and may be the “registered individual” under the Regulations for Regulated Child Care

Nursery Practitioner

Working with children below school age in a nursery setting. Supporting the physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social development of children (though a play-based curriculum). Planning activities, curriculum areas and/or supervising staff.

Senior Nursery Practitioner / Room Leader

Working with children below school age in a nursery setting.  Supporting the physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social development of children. Supervising others and planning or developing the curriculum.

Child Minder

Working in an unsupervised setting with children between 0-16 in their own home. Supporting the physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social development of children. Offering childcare without support from others.

Integrated Children's Centre Practitioner

Working with children and their families in a multi-agency environment. Supporting the physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social development of children (though a play-based curriculum in Wales). Planning activities, curriculum areas and/or supervising staff.

Crèche Leader / Practitioner

Working with children below school age in a Crèche setting. Supporting the physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social development of children (though a play-based curriculum in Wales). Planning activities, curriculum areas and/or supervising staff.

Early Years Health Support Workers

Working with children and their families in a multi-agency environment. Supporting the health and wellbeing, physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social development of children (though a play based curriculum in Wales). Planning activities, curriculum areas and/or supervising staff

Progression

Level 2

Progression into the Apprenticeship

Apprentices will come from a wide range of backgrounds including:

• schools and colleges
• work
• work experience
• unemployment including pre-employment schemes and Skill Build
• training or experience in the sector(which may include a portfolio showing what they have done)
• following redundancy
• vocationally related knowledge qualifications from the sector (especially level 1 and 2 qualifications relevant to children's care, play, learning and development )
• Welsh Baccalaureate
• Key Skills

Progression From the Apprenticeship

Career progression routes exist for entrants who may move up through levels of work, for example, from nursery assistant to nursery practitioner (room leader) eventually to nursery manager, following significant additional training and experience. There are opportunities for workers to undertake further training or assessment of competence that enables them to move to level 3 (and above) jobs.

However, progression in the sector should not only be seen as vertical and a number of options are available for specialisation, either in terms of the needs or ages of children, or the settings in which the care is provided.

• A range of vocational qualifications offered by Awarding Bodies through colleges and other learning providers to help with progression and specialist skills development including research and curriculum planning,
• Business development information, advice and training to support self-employment; starting a new business in child care

There are also a range of Playwork qualifications that provide, knowledge skills and occupational competence in this specialist area.

Apprentices can also move to other parts of the sector, for example a worker specialising in working with toddlers may wish to increase their knowledge and skills in working with babies, or working with children with sensory loss or disabilities. If their job role changes or if they wish to follow career ambitions in another part of the sector there are a wide range of continuous professional education and learning opportunities.

Level 3

Progression into the Apprenticeship

Apprentices will come from a wide range of backgrounds including:

• schools and colleges
• work
• work experience
• unemployment (possibly through pre-employment courses or Skill Build)
• training or experience in the sector(which may include a portfolio showing what they have done)
• following redundancy
• vocationally related knowledge qualifications relevant to children's care learning and development, or Playwork (level 2 and 3 qualifications)
• Welsh Baccalaureate (PLL) Society Health and Development
• Basic or Key Skills/Essential Skills Wales/New ESW
• Foundation apprenticeship in CCLD/CCPLD

There are a wide range of vocationally related qualifications offered in children's care, play, early years and education that do not offer occupational competence.  These qualifications would offer an excellent background of knowledge and understanding to support learning in this Pathway.

Progression from the Apprenticeship

Career progression routes exist for entrants who may move up through levels of work, for example, from nursery assistant to nursery practitioner to nursery manager, following significant additional training and experience. There are opportunities for workers to undertake further training or assessment of competence that enables them to move to level 4 or 5 jobs.

There are opportunities for workers to undertake further training or assessment of competence that enables them to move to other management jobs. In many early years settings a level 3 qualification is the requirement, however in Flying Start settings a level 5 qualification is required.

A range of vocational qualifications offered by Awarding Bodies through colleges and other learning providers to help with progression and specialist skills development.

Progression should not only be seen as vertical and many former apprentices chose to remain as level 3 workers. Workers can move to other parts of the sector, for example a worker specialising in working with toddlers may wish to increase their knowledge and skills in working with babies, or working with children with sensory loss or disabilities.

There may also be some progression in accessing Playwork, teaching, social work or nursing degrees and professional training . Progression to these routes would however require the candidate to meet the HE entry requirements and complete the 3 year degree programme.

Some possible job progressions include:

Flying Start manager, advanced practitioner, nursery owner, Playworker (following additional training).

Level 4 & Level 5

Progression into the Apprenticeship

Learners will be from different age groups, with differing backgrounds and experience. The professional Pathway has been developed to provide scope and breadth for those in and moving into leadership and management roles in the sector. As a guide, applicants may enter via a range of routes including from:

Apprenticeships (level 2 or 3), via other qualifications (for example in management), work experience, unemployment but with previous related experience in Early Years and Childcare, NVQ/QCF Diplomas at levels 2,3 or knowledge qualifications relevant to Early Years and Childcare (e.g. from colleges or universities).

Progression from the Apprenticeship

Learners may progress from this pathway onto further qualifications specific to their work. A wide range of qualifications are available for use within the early years and childcare sector. These may include specialist qualifications at any level, Higher Education Certificates or Diplomas, foundation degree or degree courses in early years and childcare or other work-related education and training to support continuing professional development.

Equality and diversity

It is important that apprenticeship Pathways are inclusive and can demonstrate an active approach to identifying and removing barriers to entry and progression. Pathways should advance equality of opportunity between persons who share protected characteristics and those persons who do not as identified in the Equality Act 2010.

The protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity. Marriage and civil partnership is also included although only in respect of the requirement to eliminate discrimination in employment.

Training providers and employers MUST also comply with the other duty under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that applicants are not discriminated against in terms of entry to the industry based upon those nine protected characteristics.

Social Care Wales are very aware that the children's care sector is predominantly female dominated in terms of uptake. Women between 25-40 years are the main workforce

Childcare has traditionally been seen as 'jobs for women' and the need to attract more men into the profession to ensure childcare can be offered by men as well, is important for the socialisation of children. Gender imbalance is not unique to this sector as it is also an issue for the health, care and support sector as a whole.

The Welsh language is an essential part of the cultural identity and character of Wales. A million Welsh Speakers by 2050 reflects the vision of a government determined to see the Welsh language thrive. The Welsh Medium Education Strategy supports the need to work with local authorities to identify and advertise more Welsh-medium childcare opportunities with the aim that provision meets demand.

The SSCs will continue to raise awareness and the need to promote equality and value diversity to employers, training providers and learners to try and encourage local recruitment to reflect the community.  The SSCs seeks to improve the equality and diversity monitoring of all the Apprenticeships via registration data and its certification of completions to assist with a better understanding of this issue.

In addition the responsible SSCs are currently undertaking a marketing strategy producing materials to promote and to engage both learners and employers. This has involved producing bilingual material, which promotes both younger people and male images in the sector.

Employment responsibilities and rights

Employment Responsibilities and Rights (ERR) is no longer compulsory.  But it is recommended that all apprentices (especially the 16 years -18 year group) receive a company induction programme.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Training Provider and Employer to ensure that the requirements of this pathway are delivered in accordance with the Welsh Government Apprenticeships Guidance.

 Further information may be obtained from: Welsh Government

DfES-ApprenticeshipUnit@gov.wales

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