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T Level: Education and Early Years (Early Years Educator)

  • 3

    Level
    Level 3

  • Duration
    2 years

  • Start Date
    September 2025

  • Venue
    City College Norwich campus

  • Course Code
    A0421

Start Date

  • September 2025, Full Time, Day

Summary

The purpose of this T Level qualification is to ensure that students have the knowledge and skills needed to progress in skilled employment within the education and early years sector. This qualification focuses on the study of education and early years, offering breadth and depth of study, by incorporating key knowledge and providing opportunities to acquire practical and technical skills.
This T Level qualification in education and early years has 2 components –

1 - Core knowledge and understanding covers the core knowledge, understanding and skills relevant education and early years, such as:

  • Behaviour
  • Child Development
  • Equality and Diversity
  • Parents, families and carers
  • Safeguarding, health and safety and wellbeing

2 –Occupational specialism covers the knowledge, understanding skills and behaviours that is required to achieve competency:

  • Support and promote children’s play, development and early education
  • Develop relationships with children to facilitate their development
  • Plan, provide and review care, play and educational opportunities to enable children to progress
  • Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children
  • Work in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children’s development

As part of this T Level programme you are required to complete 750 hours in a an early years setting where you will gain hands-on experience in working within the sector, allowing you to put theory into practice and apply the knowledge that has been gained.

You must be able to demonstrate essential skills to work in early years:

  • You must be caring
  • You must demonstrate that you are motivated to work with children
  • You must show patience when working with children
  • You must have resilience to work in a challenging environment

Why Our College?

Equivalent to 3 A Levels

T Levels are equivalent to three A Levels and are allocated UCAS tariff points.

Developed with industry

T Levels have been designed with leading employers and businesses. They will provide you with the skills to progress to an apprenticeship, university or skilled employment.

Academic and practical

80% will be academic and technical study at college. 20% will be practical experience gained with an employer as part of an industry placement.

Entry Requirements

Achieve 5 GCSE's at grade 4 or above, including English Language and maths.
Attend a taster day
Complete associated diagnostic tasks
Provide two positive references
Successful completion of a Disclosure Baring Service (DBS) check.

It is also desirable that you have undertaken some work experience in an education setting.

Assessment

Students will be assessed by:
First Year:
Completing an Employer Set Project
Two core exams

Second Year:
Synoptic assessments at college and placement

Progression

On successful completion students can progress onto apprenticeships, higher education or employment within the early years sector.

Fees

If you are a UK or home fee status student and aged 16-18 on the 31st August before the start of your course, tuition fees are free.

Where Next?

Why Our College?

Equivalent to 3 A Levels

T Levels are equivalent to three A Levels and are allocated UCAS tariff points.

Developed with industry

T Levels have been designed with leading employers and businesses. They will provide you with the skills to progress to an apprenticeship, university or skilled employment.

Academic and practical

80% will be academic and technical study at college. 20% will be practical experience gained with an employer as part of an industry placement.