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T Level Foundation Programme In Childcare and Education T LevelApply Now »
Location: The RoundHouse
Years: 1
Interview: Y
Course Summary
This course will provide a transition year to the advanced T Level in Education and Childcare and will give you the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare you to succeed on the T Level.
The aim of the main qualification within this transition programme is to provide learners with knowledge and understanding of babies and young children from birth to 7 years of age, with applied knowledge in the early (0-5) years.
The qualification content meets the full and relevant Department for Education (DfE) criteria for a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner in the workforce.
Entry requirements
You need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 3 (D) or above, including a grade 4 (C) in English.
You must be willing to provide evidence for an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Course Content
You will study units such as:
- Roles and Responsibilities of the Early Years Practitioner
- Health and Safety
- Equality and Diversity in Early Years Settings
You will continue to study maths if you have not already achieved a grade 4 at GCSE.
You will be required to attend a placement in a childcare setting.
You will also develop study skills that will enable you to progress to the advanced T Level and carry out an employer-led project and an independent research project.
How will I be assessed?
You will be internally assessed via a variety of methods including exams and controlled assessments.
Skills-based outcomes must be achieved in a real work environment and will include direct observation in the workplace.
Are there any additional costs or specialist equipment required?
You need flat shoes for your placement and you will be required to wear a College placement shirt.
What can I do after this course?
This Transition course is the ideal preparation for the advanced T Level in Education and Childcare.
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Melissa Smedley
Higher education student Melissa would like a career in play therapy
Derby College Early Years higher education student Melissa Smedley would like to train as a play therapist once she’s graduated.
Melissa, who is completing her foundation degree in Children and Young People's Services, has been studying at the college since she was 16.
A natural with young children, she cared for her little brother who has special needs from the age of 13 and has always wanted to go into childcare.
And, getting an A grade in Child Development while still in year 10 at school, convinced Melissa she was making the right choice.
She said: “I’m the sort of person who needs to know what I’m aiming for. I couldn’t do years of study just for the sake of it.
“I was quite a nervous, anxious person but going to college has done so much for my confidence. My lecturer Mandy at Ilkeston was the one who started me off by encouraging me, and the lecturers I have now have also given me some support. I was feeling a bit nervous about moving from Ilkeston to a different campus when I started my foundation degree but my lecturer Amber met me at The Roundhouse and helped me find my way around.”
Melissa – who has been accepted on to the top up degree course at Derby University – currently balances studying with working at Busy Bees nursery in Wollaton. She’s been there for three years and was recently promoted to senior room manager, looking after babies aged from three months to one year.
Reflecting on the HE course content, she added: “What we learn is all relatable and, when you’re interested in what you’re learning, it keeps you occupied and motivated. My big interest is in forest school and outdoor play. I can’t believe I’ve been with Derby College since I was 16! I’ve come so far with college. I’m the first person in my family to get this far – to degree level – in my education.”
I was quite a nervous, anxious person but going to college has done so much for my confidence. My lecturer Mandy at Ilkeston was the one who started me off by encouraging me, and the lecturers I have now have also given me some support. I was feeling a bit nervous about moving from Ilkeston to a different campus when I started my foundation degree but my lecturer Amber met me at The Roundhouse and helped me find my way around.
