This course is designed to help learners build the skills and knowledge required for working with children and young people. It covers a diverse range of job roles and occupational areas. As well as gaining a respected national qualification, you will develop confidence, motivation, self-esteem and skills in communication and teamwork.
The course is designed for apprentices in roles such as Early Years Worker/Assistant. The apprenticeship programme lasts for 12-24 months.
You must be over 16 years old and working in a child care environment, providing support to children under the supervision of a senior member of staff. You must have a satisfactory DBS check. You will also need to demonstrate sufficient skills in literacy and numeracy to support the children with whom you work.
The apprenticeship course content is:
You will be assessed through a range of written tasks and observed practice. You will be allocated an assessor who will visit you in the workplace to action plan your progress, observe you in practice and assess your portfolio. You will also attend College weekly for vocational programme delivery. You will also need to attend Functional Skills classes which will be assessed through controlled assessment.
You need an e-portfolio.
Further Study
You can progress to the CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce. Please note that GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or above is an entry requirement for this Level 3 course.
Former DCG student James Bates plans to train as a primary school teacher once he has finished his top up degree at the University of Derby.
James, who is 23 and from Belper, progressed to a degree in Early Childhood Studies after getting a distinction in his foundation course in Children and Young People’s Services at the Roundhouse.
James said taking the three-year foundation course had been a “great stop gap” between school and university.
He added: “A lot of what I learned at Derby College keeps cropping up on my degree course.
“If I’d gone to university straight from school, I think I would have struggled with the academic writing. I know I would have found that side so much harder.”
James did an apprenticeship in school sports before College, and because his foundation course was part-time, carried on working at a local primary school three days a week. He was also able to work for the Rural Derbyshire School Sport Partnership which promotes sports in schools across the Dales and Hope Valley.
James is continuing to work as a Teaching Assistant and for the partnership while studying for his degree. As part of his College studies, James wrote an essay on the impact of Covid-19 on the role of teaching assistants.
A lot of what I learned at Derby College keeps cropping up on my degree course.
If I’d gone to university straight from school, I think I would have struggled with the academic writing. I know I would have found that side so much harder.