Level 5 Diploma Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) (Top-Up) (15 ECTS)

The overall objectives of this program shall be those of producing well-trained professional staff who have the knowledge and understanding of how young children learn and develop. This is an important quality factor and a crucial element for positive impact on children. The aim of the Level 5 Diploma ECEC (Top-Up) is to help professionalise the early years sector, by providing early years learners with the necessary knowledge, skills, competences and dispositions to work with young children. This program will also enable the learners to develop their notion of what it means to be an early years’ professional.

This course is targeted for:

• Any person who seeks to further studies to become a Kindergarten Educator II (KGE II)
• Graduates of the Level 5 Diploma ECEC (Top-Up) will have the necessary skills, competences and qualifications to work with children aged 3 – 5 years old, in kindergarten settings within schools at KG2 level

Entry Requirements

In order to be eligible for entry into this Level 5 Diploma ECEC TopUp course (15ects) learners must hold a Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner which carries 45ects or the NCFE CACHE Level 5 ​Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young people’s Services (England) ​Children’s and Young People’s Management 45ects. Both courses together will make up for the required 60ects to progress to KG2.

Course objectives – knowledge, skills and competences

The learner will be able to:

1. Acquire sound pedagogical knowledge which will help them understand how young children learn
2. Individualise learning to meet the individual interests, aptitudes, characteristics and contexts of children
3. Develop a wide range of skills, including planning, observation, documentation, assessment and reflective practice, which are needed when one is working with young children
4. Gain good knowledge of professional, philosophical and pedagogical issues across different disciplines, with the aim to be equipped with knowledge, skills and competences needed

Moreover, the learner will be able to:

1. Understand the diversity of young children’s growth and development
2. Develop an awareness of the impact of the social, cultural and life experiences on children’s learning and development
3. Acquire broad pedagogical knowledge to understand how young children learn
4. Develop the ability to plan, develop and implement developmentally appropriate activities that are based on their interests through the most effective way; therefore applying theory to practice
5. Adopt an awareness of a range of professional issues which impact directly on the management of and relationships amongst a group of learners
6. Grasp an array of skills, attitudes and dispositions to become competent and committed professionals through the practical aspects of the course
7. Assume an awareness of the ethical issues implicit in the professional role
8. Embrace a commitment to social justice and democratic participation in an education where children’s rights, voices and an ethics of care are valued
9. Develop an understanding that teaching and learning are complex processes that involve working with multi-disciplinary professionals, parents and multiple practitioners
10. Achieve an acquisition of specialised knowledge of early childhood education-related aspects of the following areas: Psychology, Pedagogy, Professional Practice, Creative Activity, and Professional Issue

The Diploma will be taught over a variety of methods that include lectures, tutorials, observations and practice placement where learners will have the opportunity to experience first-hand working with young children in school contexts.

This course is made up of 6 modules. There are 5 taught modules which are delivered via online synchronous lectures, and 1 module consisting of practice placement hours of hands-on practice undertaken by the learner at his/her workplace. This Diploma in ECEC carries 15ects.

Practice Placement

Here learners need to conduct 50 hours in the role of KGE. Practice placement will be conducted at the learner’s place of work, hence within the school where s/he is already employed as KGE. The learner will be expected to be in full time employment within this setting and will be required to validate 50 hours of practice for this mandatory placement. When on sick leave, missed hours would need to be compensated. This will consist of hands-on practice undertaken by the learner within the duration of the course. Such hours are a mandatory part of the course.

The Total Learning Hours is 375 hours, out of which 65 are Contact Hours and 50 are Placement Hours.