T Level Foundation Programme Early Years Education and Childcare (September 2027 Start)

The T level Foundation programme prepares you for a rewarding career in early years and primary education with our NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Working in Early Years and Primary Settings. This programmes covers a range of key subject areas that provides you with the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to care for and educate children aged between 0 and 11 years 11 months old.

During the T level Foundation programme, you will be required to complete mandatory work experience, this will play a key role in developing your knowledge by providing valuable hands-on learning in real childcare environments. To successfully complete the course,you are required to undertake a minimum of 200 hours of work placement over the year. This will include two block weeks and two days per week in placement.

To meet course requirements, your placements must take place in both an Early Years setting and a Primary School. You will also have an observation in both your settings to support your portfolio of evidence and competence in the sector.

Please note: A valid Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is mandatory and must be completed before the placement begins.

On successful completion of this Level 2 course, along with your placement experience in the relevant area and Maths and English grades 4-9, you will be considered for progression onto the T Level in Education and Childcare.

If you’d prefer to go straight into employment, it may also be possible to go into employment as a Level 2 practitioner. Additionally, another option (if you have the required English and Maths grades) is to look into undertaking an apprenticeship.

During this course, you will cover a range of units, Some of the units that are covered during this qualification include: child development, play and learning, exploring legislation, the role of the practitioner, nutrition and physical develop. understanding Curriculum. You'll also gain valuable hands-on experience through placements in early years settings and primary schools, additionally you will also develop your essential digital skills and personal development. Within the course you will also study only GCSE Maths and English Language (if required).

We typically require a minimum of four GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including either English or Maths.

As a learner you will experience both classroom-based and practical learning through college and industry placement. The qualification (is the main classroom-based element of the course and consists of theory based content for your course and personal and professional development to support you in the world of work

During your course you will have to pay a non refundable resource fee that supports your programme of study, this fee is mandatory for the course and supports you to gain the following: Uniform for placement, Food hygiene and two educational trips. £ 130.00 cost paid via Wisepay,

To achieve the NCFE CACHE Certificate in Working with Children in Early Years and Primary Settings, learners must pass all six mandatory units. These units are internally assessed and graded as Pass, Merit, or Distinction.

In addition, learners must complete:

A Professional Skills Record (portfolio), based on 200 hours of placement in real early years and primary school settings. This will be assessed by both the placement supervisor and the Centre Assessor, and graded as Achieved or Not Yet Achieved.

The T Level Foundation Year National Technical Outcomes (NTOs) set out the skills and knowledge that learners are expected to demonstrate by the end of the course.

The grades from the units, Professional Skills Record, and NTOs will be combined to determine an overall result of Pass, Merit, or Distinction. Learners must successfully complete all elements to gain the full qualification.