T Level in Education and Early Years

T Levels follow GCSEs and are equivalent to studying three A levels. T levels are an advanced level, 2-year technical qualification designed with employers to give you a head start towards the future you want. The qualification equips students with core knowledge and skills relevant to Educational and Early Years, up-to-date occupational knowledge and skills that have continued currency amongst employers, and occupational competence that meets employer expectations.

On the Education and Early Years T Level, you�ll learn a wide range of knowledge on topics needed to be successful in this rewarding sector. You will learn about key topics such as child development, supporting education, parents, families and carers and wellbeing.

The education and childcare sector offers a number of exciting job opportunities as:

• Education is one of the largest employment sectors in Leicester and Leicestershire and is continuing to grow.
• The need for a skilled and passionate workforce in the early years sector continues to be critical as high quality early years provision can have a positive and lasting impact on children�s development.

Year 1 is made up of three key parts:

1. Core: Knowledge and understanding of contexts, concepts and theories of the education and childcare sector:

• Child Development
• Supporting Education
• Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Wellbeing
• Behaviour
• Observation and Assessment
• Equality and Diversity
• Special Educational Needs and Disability
• English as an Additional Language
• Wider Context
• Parents, Families and Carers
• Working with others
• Reflective Practice
• English, Maths and digital skills needed in the education and childcare sector
  

2. Employer Set Project: A project set by education and childcare specialists that requires you to apply your knowledge to a real-life problem in the industry.

3. Industry Placement: Towards the end of the year, you will get the opportunity to put the knowledge and skills you have learned in to action as you start your industry placement. You will work with an external education or childcare employer provider to apply your knowledge and develop your technical skills in a real-life education or childcare workplace.

Year 2 is made up of two key parts:

1. You will specialise in: Early Years Education and Childcare; this specialism will enable you explore the skills knowledge and behaviours needed to:

• Support and promote children�s play, development and early education
• Develop relationships with children to facilitate their development
• Plan, provide and review care, play and educational opportunities to enable children to progress
• Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children
• Work in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children�s development
  

2. Continuation of your Industry Placement; with an external education or childcare employer which will develop your technical skills and apply your knowledge in a workplace environment.

Across year one and two, you will complete at least 45 days in total working in the education and childcare sector, giving you valuable experience in the workplace and employers the chance to see the new talent in this sector.

GCSE English Language and maths at grade 4 and three other GCSEs at grade 4 or above.

A previous study of education and/or childcare is not a requirement; however, you should have an interest in this sector and be prepared to discuss this further at interview.

Please note: if you do not meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible to study a T Level Transition programme with us.

T Levels offer many opportunities for progression:

• Progress to University: You can use the UCAS points you achieve as a result of completing your T level to continue your studies at university.
• Enter Employment: You can use the skills, knowledge and experience you have gained to start working in the Education and Childcare industry.
• Apprenticeship: There are many opportunities offered through apprenticeships that allow you to carry on learning (20%) whilst spending most of your time (80%) furthering your skills in the workplace.

There are a variety of careers you can pursue once you have completed the course as the knowledge, skills and behaviours you will develop are highly prized within a broad range of education and childcare professions for example:

• Early Years Practitioner
• Early Years Educator
• Education Technician
• Primary/Secondary/Tertiary Teaching and Support Assistant