Birkenhead Sixth Form College

Childcare and Education Cache Level 3

Entry Requirements

Normal BSFC entry points for an AS programme of study and students are strongly advised to have achieved GCSE English at Grade C as part of the College’s entry requirements for advanced level study, before embarking upon this course. A genuine and proven interest in children is essential. The course requires the completion of modules of study and their relevant assignments; a variety of work placements will also be completed. Whilst on placement students will be expected to carry out observations of children as well as planning and carrying out practical activities. The work carried out
on placement will then be analysed and used as part of the work in class.

Childcare is often perceived as ‘an easy option’, it is not, the work in College is academic and varied, placements are rewarding and stimulating but can be tiring and demanding. Other essential requirements are good communication and personal organisational skills with a willingness to develop these areas as the course progresses.

The Level 3 course is a modular training course for anyone wanting to work During either the one or two year course students will spend 2 days a week in a variety of practical placements. You will experience work mainly with children from 0 – 7yrs 11 months in a number of settings and locations within Wirral.

In all of the placements, students will have regular visits from either the Placement Officer or College Tutors; who will provide regular feedback on your practical work.

About the Subject

Current Subject Developments

As a result of the previous Government’s proposed changes to training, all Child Care Workers are to follow a one year training course at level 3, this will not attract UCAS points but will be the main route into paid employment in the Child Care field.

CACHE; our exam board, are lobbying the current Government along with ‘Btec’ and other providers, to be able to offer a two year course similar to the very successful current course. We are confident that the two year course will be sanctioned and will offer a path into Higher Education, as well as employment – one that many of our past students have found to be so
useful.

If you are interested in following the Child Care route into Higher Education talk to the child care staff who will undertake to keep you informed of developments as soon as they are published.

The new one year Level 3 Child care course is an exciting development for all would be child care practitioners. With the abolition of the NVQ route into child care this is the only viable route now available.

Developed by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) it is a demanding and interesting blend of practical and academic work.

What does this new qualification cover?

This qualification is designed to help learners build the knowledge and skills needed when working with children and young people from birth to 19 years. It covers a diverse range of job roles and occupational areas and is spilt into three pathways:

• Early Learning and Childcare
• Children’s Social Care
• Learning and Development Support Services.

In addition it contains an optional unit ‘Understand how to set up a home based child care service’ which can be taken as a stand alone unit for those who wish to become registered childminders.

It is the only QCF Level 3 qualification conferring occupational competence for the children and young people’s workforce in England.

How many credits are required to complete the qualification?

The Diploma will require 65 credits in total.

How is it assessed?

It will be internally assessed by a range of methods. This could include direct observation within the workplace, a portfolio of evidence, written assignments or a task set by CACHE.

Do learners need to be working to take this qualification?

Learners will need to be working or on practical placement in an environment suitable for the pathway they are taking, as they need to show competence in both knowledge and skills. This will involve two days practical a week.

What Next?

It is an exciting time in the Childcare field. In previous years many of our students have attained employment locally immediately upon leaving college, some the same week they leave. Other students have spent time working for one of the local education agencies before settling on a setting in which they feel comfortable. There are many opportunities available at both local and International level in the care of children for students qualifying with the Level 3 Diploma. Students can expect to enter work easily and, after gaining some experience quickly be considered for promotion to more supervisory posts.

Those students using this course in the past as an entry to University have found that the experiences they have had were of enormous value to them in their studies for one of the vast array of Early Years Courses. Students have been able to progress either into Social Care or Education quite easily depending upon their choice of Higher Education Course.