Pre-Tertiary Certificate for the Early Years Educator MQF Level 4

• Plan, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate and inclusive activities that support the holistic development of children aged 0-8 years.
• Communicate effectively with children, families, and colleagues using verbal, non-verbal, and written communication, adapting to diverse cultural and linguistic needs.
• Create safe, healthy, and secure environments for children by adhering to regulatory standards and applying effective risk management strategies.
• Support children’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development by applying child development theories in practice.
• Observe, assess, and document children’s progress to identify developmental needs and plan tailored interventions.
• Promote positive behaviour in children through supportive strategies that encourage self-regulation and social skills while addressing challenging behaviours constructively.
• Build inclusive learning environments that accommodate and respect cultural, linguistic, and individual differences, ensuring equitable access to education.
• Collaborate with families and community resources to engage them as active partners in children’s learning and development.
• Reflect on their professional practice to continuously improve skills, adapt to new challenges, and contribute to the goals of the early years setting.
• Use digital tools effectively to enhance learning, communication, and administrative tasks while ensuring safe and age-appropriate technology use in early years settings.

a.     Developmental Milestones: Understand the key developmental milestones in early childhood, including cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and language development.

b.    Theoretical Foundations: Demonstrate knowledge of major theories and research in early childhood education, including those by Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson, Montessori, and others.

c.     Curriculum Models: Identify and explain various early childhood curriculum models and pedagogical approaches, such as Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and HighScope.

d.    Health and Safety: Understand the principles of health, safety, and nutrition in early childhood settings.

e.     Diversity and Inclusion: Comprehend the importance of diversity and inclusion in early childhood education and strategies for implementing inclusive practices.

a.     Observation and Assessment: Develop skills in observing and assessing children’s development and learning using various methods and tools.

b.     Curriculum Planning: Plan and implement developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive curriculum and activities for young children.

c.     Classroom Management: Apply effective classroom management strategies to create a positive and nurturing learning environment.

d.     Family Engagement: Develop strategies to engage families in their children’s education and build strong home-school partnerships.

e.     Instructional Techniques: Utilize a variety of instructional techniques to support learning across different developmental domains.

f.       Technology Integration: Integrate appropriate technology into the early childhood classroom to enhance learning and engagement.

3: The Emergent Curriculum in Eary Years: preparation and Application

ORAL EXAM

60 ECTS