Free Level 3 Early Years Educator Course in Mansfield. Evening classes run at West Notts College, so you can fit study around your existing work or commitments. You'll cover child development, health and well-being, play and learning, legislation, and professional practice. The course takes 18 months part-time. Level 3 Early Years Educator is the qualification recognised in statutory staffing ratios for nursery and foundation stage settings, so completing it opens doors that lower-level qualifications don't.
Who this course is for
This course will provide you with a recognised early years qualification, whether you already work within a day nursery or foundation stage care/educational setting or looking to do so. You may be employed or volunteering as an early years assistant, early years educator, nursery assistant, early years special educational needs assistant or wish to become a volunteer early year’s educator within a day nursery or foundation stage unit in a primary school. On successful completion of this course students will be awarded the NCFE CACHE Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator) - Level 3.
What you will learn
You'll explore child health, well-being, and safeguarding practices.
You'll study legislation, frameworks, and professional standards in early years settings.
You'll learn how to support play, development, and learning for school readiness.
You'll develop skills in planning and delivering activities for young children.
You'll build knowledge of professional development and reflective practice.
You'll understand how to support children with special educational needs.
How you will learn
You'll study in small classroom groups at West Notts College during evening sessions. Learning is delivered face-to-face with tutor support throughout. Assessment includes a combination of coursework, observations in an early years setting, and professional discussions. You'll need access to a suitable childcare placement to complete the practice-based elements of the course. The centre will confirm placement requirements when you enrol.
What you will need to bring
The centre will provide most materials. West Notts College will confirm anything else you need before you start. You will also need access to an early years setting (such as a nursery or foundation stage classroom) for the practice-based assessment elements.
Where next
Jobs you could do
Nursery practitioner: working with children aged 0-5 in day nurseries
Early years educator: counted in statutory staffing ratios at Level 3
Foundation stage assistant: supporting learning in primary school reception classes
Nursery room leader: leading a room or age-group within a nursery
Special educational needs assistant: supporting children with additional needs in early years
Childminder: running your own registered childcare provision
What you could study next
Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for the Early Years Sector: moves you toward room leader or deputy manager roles in nursery settings.
Early Childhood Studies degree (BA): a university route for those interested in research, policy, or senior leadership in early years.
Level 3 Award in Education and Training: useful if you want to move into training or assessing roles within childcare.
