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Level 2 Early Years Course at Tameside College

CostFREE
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 2
DeliveryClassroom based
Start6 Sep 2027
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyNCFE awarding body
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About this course

Free Level 2 Early Years Course in Ashton-under-Lyne. Classes run full-time at Tameside College, with daytime attendance across the year. You'll study how to care for and support the learning and development of children aged 0 to 11 years. The course covers child development, safeguarding, and supporting learning through play and structured activities. Teaching includes group work, skills practice, extended writing, and interactive activities. You'll also take part in work experience in an early years or primary setting. Entry requires four GCSEs at grade 3 or above, and you'll be interviewed before starting. NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Working with Children in Early Years and Primary Settings with certificate.

Who this course is for

This is a full-time study programme and has been designed to support you as you develop your knowledge, understanding and skills when caring for and supporting the learning and development of children aged 0-11 years 11 months. You will learn through a variety of teaching methods which aims to meet the needs of each individual and accommodate different learning styles, for example, assessments, group work, skills practice, extended writing and interactive activities. Throughout the course you will study 6 units in total and a professional skills record.

These include:

  • Child development from birth to 11 years 11 months
  • Play and learning
  • Exploring legislation
  • The role of the practitioner
  • Nutrition
  • Physical development and physical activity.

You will also take part in mandatory skills practice.

Entry requirements

Level 2 (Intermediate)

  • 4 GCSEs at grade 3 or above.

You will be interviewed for this course; you should be enthusiastic about working in the early years and primary sector and be able to participate in work experience.

What you will learn

  • You'll develop knowledge of how children aged 0 to 11 learn and develop.
  • You'll learn how to support children's learning through play and structured activities.
  • You'll understand safeguarding responsibilities and how to keep children safe.
  • You'll practise skills for working in nursery and primary settings.
  • You'll build understanding of how to meet individual children's needs.
  • You'll gain experience through work placements in early years or primary environments.

How you will learn

You'll learn through a mix of classroom-based methods at Tameside College. These include group work, skills practice, extended writing, and interactive activities. Assessment is designed to suit different learning styles. You'll also complete work experience in an early years or primary setting, which forms part of the programme.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. Tameside College will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Nursery practitioner: support children's learning in a nursery setting.
  • Nursery assistant: help qualified staff with day-to-day childcare.
  • Teaching assistant: support pupils in a primary school classroom.
  • Playworker: lead play sessions in after-school or holiday clubs.
  • Childminder: care for children in a home-based setting.
  • Early years key worker: take responsibility for a small group of children.

What you could study next

  • Level 3 Early Years Educator: the qualification recognised in statutory staffing ratios for nursery work. This is the natural next step if you want to take on a lead practitioner role.
  • Level 3 Teaching Assistant Diploma: if you want to focus on primary school support work.
  • Level 3 Childcare and Education Diploma: broader qualification covering a range of childcare settings.
Apply on tameside.ac.uk →
Apply now →

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