Exam Board – NCFE

Qualification – Level 3 Applied General Certificate for Early Years, Childcare and Education

Entry requirements – 5 x GCSEs at A*-C or grades 9-4, including a grade 4 in English, a grade 4 in Maths

Course specification

The Level 3 Applied General Certificate for Early Years, Childcare and Education enables learners to develop knowledge and understanding of child development, education and care, which will allow them to progress to study in further education, higher education or join the workplace as an apprentice. This qualification is the equivalent, in size and rigour, to that of an A Level.

In this qualification learners will develop an understanding of:

• diverse childcare settings and the role of the childcare professional
• roles, responsibilities, skills and attributes for working in childcare settings
• types and functions of childcare services
• significant milestones and relevant theories related to human development
• educational frameworks and how they are applied to optimise positive outcomes for children and young people
• relevant legislation and statutory guidance
• approaches to play and the impact of play on learning, well-being and development.

In this qualification learners will develop practical skills and techniques in:

• teamwork and partnership building
• professional and personal development
• communication
• evaluation
• research
• analysis
• reflection.

These underpinning, transferrable skills will benefit learners if they choose to progress to higher education.

Qualification structure:

Learners will need to complete 5 mandatory units and 2 external assessments; a scenario based short answer examination and an extended written assignment, taken under controlled supervision.

Students are examined by:

All units for this qualification will be internally assessed using a variety of methods. In addition, learners will be required to achieve a minimum of a pass grade for a synoptic short answer examination and a synoptic extended written assignment, both of which will be externally set and externally assessed.