Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Course at Kent Adult Education

Cost£2,503.00
Duration30 weeks
LevelLevel 2
DeliveryOnline
StartFlexible
Awarding bodyCity & Guilds awarding body

About this course

Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Course. Study online. You work through the course at your own pace, which makes it easier to fit around existing commitments. The course covers child development, safeguarding, communication, and supporting children's learning in early years settings. It typically takes 30 weeks to complete. You'll build an online portfolio of evidence as you progress. The course is delivered by Kent Adult Education and leads to the City and Guilds Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner (England). Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Diploma with certificate.

Who this course is for

This is a Level 2 qualification equating to GCSE (grade A-C) and, therefore, assignments will require this level of competence in English. You should be able to follow spoken and written instructions, read handouts/exercises and take part in group discussions.

This course will include tutor input plus small group work, tutorials and practical workshops. You will receive guidance in producing an online E-portfolio of evidence that will be submitted for assessment.

Tutors will give feedback on homework assignments as well as classroom activities; tutorials will also be included. The assessment of this course includes observations of your working practice within an early years setting following which feedback will be given.

Students should expect to spend approximately 5-8 hours a week working on course assignments in addition to the course hours delivered via Zoom, plus the hours in your early years placement throughout the course. You are required to attend a minimum 90% of the course.

A paid or voluntary early years placement is essential for this course. The placement, which is organised by the student, needs to be in place before the start date of the course. 250 placement hours are required to complete this course. Students also need to have an enhanced DBS check. Students should initially contact their placement to discuss local DBS arrangements. Please note that this may incur an additional cost that is not included in the advertised course fee.

Entry requirements

Visit our website for more information about what you will need to join this course.

What you will learn

  • You'll understand how children develop from birth to five years and beyond.
  • You'll learn how to support children's communication, language, and literacy.
  • You'll explore how to plan and deliver activities that support learning and development.
  • You'll learn how to keep children safe, including safeguarding responsibilities.
  • You'll understand how to work in partnership with parents and carers.
  • You'll learn about health, wellbeing, and nutrition in early years settings.
  • You'll build an online portfolio of evidence to demonstrate your skills and knowledge.

How you will learn

Learning combines tutor input, small group work, tutorials, and practical workshops delivered online. You'll receive guidance on building an online e-portfolio of evidence, which is submitted for assessment. Tutors provide feedback on your work throughout the course. Because the course is online, you can study at times that suit you across the 30-week programme.

What you will need to bring

Kent Adult Education will confirm anything you need before you start. You'll need reliable internet access and a device to complete online study and build your e-portfolio. The course requires written work at a standard broadly comparable to GCSE, so you should be comfortable reading and writing in English.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Nursery practitioner: working with children aged 0 to 5 in a nursery setting.
  • Nursery assistant: supporting qualified staff in a day nursery.
  • Childminder assistant: helping a registered childminder at home or in a setting.
  • Early years teaching assistant: supporting children's learning in a Reception class.
  • Playgroup worker: leading or assisting sessions in a community playgroup.
  • Crèche worker: caring for young children in a crèche or leisure setting.

What you could study next

A free early years practitioner qualification at Level 2 is a strong foundation for further study. The Level 3 Early Years Educator Diploma is the next step; it's the qualification recognised in statutory staffing ratios for nursery work, meaning many employers require it for senior room roles. From there, you could move toward a Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner qualification or a degree in Early Childhood Studies if you want to move into management or teaching.

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