Our range of leisure and hobby courses keeps growing, with even more fun and exciting courses starting throughout 2025.
Level 3
T Level Education and Early Years
COURSE OVERVIEW
This is an exciting new course that combines a mixture of technical knowledge and work placement to give you the skills and experience you need to work with children. You will learn about child development, observing children, working with families and special educational needs and disabilities. In addition to this you will also learn about child psychology, laws and different job roles within the education sector.
If you want to become a Primary Teacher Teaching Assistant or Nursery Practitioner, then this is the course for YOU! There are two routes:
- Early Education and Childcare (ages birth to 5)
- Assisting Teaching (Primary and Secondary)
This is a great opportunity for you to work alongside professionals, become part of the team and put theory into practice. It lets you find out if this is the career of your dreams. The course is made up of a core unit and a specialism (either Early Years or Assisting Teaching). In the first year everyone does the same, before choosing your pathway. What you learn in the classroom you will be able to put into practice in placement, in both nurseries and schools.
Love working with children? Love play? You get to spend 40% of your course working with children (schools or nurseries)..
FURTHER INFORMATION
You need to be a suitable person to work with children.
We expect our students to be kind, caring, respectful, show empathy and have a love for working with children. You will need an enhanced Disclosure and Barring service check and provide two satisfactory references.
Age: You will need to be aged between 16 -; 18 at the start of the qualification.
Minimum GCSEs: You will need 5 GCSEs grade 4 or above, including English Language and Mathematics. Previous work experience with children will support your application. You will also need to be successful at interview and create a substantial portfolio (summer task) showcasing your commitment to the course.
If you have a question about entry requirements, please contact us on t-levels@chichester.ac.uk or call 01243 786321 and ask to speak to the T Level team.
This course will give you access to Higher Education programmes e.g. teaching, early childhood studies, education, nannying and social work degrees. However, as this course has UCAS points it can open the door to most University courses. You can also progress into employment: nurseries, primary schools, family homes and as a holiday rep.
Students with childcare work experience have often walked straight into jobs at nurseries they love or become teaching assistants in schools. Looking to do A Levels to become a teacher? This is course offers both practical and theoretical knowledge, giving you the perfect toolkit for University.
For those of you wanting to travel, students have also had experiences of Camp America, Ski A Season, Mark Warner or Disney Cruise ships! Or do you have your sights on becoming a Norland Nanny for the rich and famous? How exciting!
You will have a mix of formal assessments and exams. Formal assessments include practical activities like planning activities for children and observing children in placement.
Year 1
2 written examinations (Paper A & Paper B)
An Employer Set Project – A practical task where you plan activities, carry out group discussions and evaluate your own skills.
Year 2
3 assessments that link to your knowledge and skills in placement (students had big smiles after doing these ‘exams’ this year). You will be observed in placement, working alongside the children.
You will need to buy the normal stationary for your course. To work with children you also need an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to work with children. A DBS normally costs £44.00, but the College will pay for this for you! You will need to buy a fleece and 2 polo shirts for placement, which you can get once you start. There is £55.00 cost payable at the start of your course (1 core text book and 1 trip).
Our childcare students have been carrying out volunteering in placements for many years. It is fabulous watching our lovely students grow in confidence, ability and as a result regularly being offered paid employment.
It really helps you to decide what career you would like. This course lets you find out about YOU!
- What age groups you love LOVE to work with?
- Do you like big nurseries, with lots of children, or nice cosy ones with only a few children per room?
- Would you like to experience forest school?
- Would you like to work with children with special educational needs or disabilities?
We can’t wait to meet you!!
If you would like any further information, please come along to our open days, check the college website for dates. Alternatively give us a call on the main college telephone number or email at Admissions@chichester.ac.uk where we can answer any questions or queries that you may have.