Technical Occupational Entry for the Early Years Workforce Level 3 Diploma Part-time
Course Overview
Technical Occupational Entry for the Early Years Workforce Level 3 Diploma Part-time
This course prepares adults to work with young children and be counted in staff-to-child ratios in early years settings. It meets the full Department for Education (DfE) Early Years Educator criteria and aligns with the national occupational standards.
You’ll gain the knowledge and practical skills to support children from birth to five years, with an understanding of development up to age seven. A minimum of 300 hours in a relevant work placement is required, which must be arranged before the course starts. Existing roles in the sector may count toward this requirement.
You will cover:
An introduction to the role of the early years educator
Holistic child development
Children with special educational needs and disabilities
Effective communication in an early year setting
Safeguarding and welfare requirements
Health, wellbeing and safety
Promoting an effective early years’ curriculum
Assessment of children’s learning and development
Understanding play for holistic development and learning
Partnership working
Located at: Old Mill Lane campus
Course Start: 01 September 2025
Course length: 1 Years
Day(s) of study: Tuesday, at 9:30am - 4:30pm
Study Mode: Part-time
Course Code: QCHDTOE311
Course Fees and Funding
How much does the course cost?
This qualification may be eligible for funding. For further guidance on funding, please contact your local funding provider.
Aged 19 or over and thinking about studying a course?
You may be eligible for free or reduced course fees. Please visit the How to apply and fees page for further details.
Free courses for jobs
If you are aged 19 or over, you may not have to pay for this course if:
- You do not already have a Level 3 qualification OR
- You already have a Level 3 qualification or higher but earn below the earnings threshold set by your local authority, which includes benefits (see below) OR
- You already have a Level 3 qualification or higher but are unemployed and in receipt of a means-tested benefit, below the earnings threshold set by your local authority (see below).
This course is funded by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and/or West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA). You must be living in the South or West Yorkshire regions to qualify for funding.
Earnings Threshold
- If you live in the qualifying West Yorkshire region and earn below £25,000 a year, then you may not have to pay for this course.
- If you live in the qualifying South Yorkshire region and earn below £30,476 a year, then you may not have to pay for this course.
Other funding information
You may be eligible for assistance with expenses such as travel, books, equipment and childcare. For further information please contact Student Services by calling 01226 216 267.
Course Content
You must hold GCSE or Functional Skills English and Maths at Level 2 to be included in staff-to-child ratios at Level 3.
There are no formal entry qualifications, but a Level 2 in Early Years or relevant experience is an advantage.
All applicants will attend an interview before enrolment.
The qualification is assessed through a range of methods, including:
Internally set and assessed units
Direct observation of the learner working in the placement
Professional discussion
Reflective accounts
Expert witness testimonies
Learners who achieve this qualification could progress to the following:
Employment
Educator in day nurseries
Educator in nursery schools
Educator in reception classes in primary school
Pre-school worker
Studies in Higher Education
Other Resources
For further details, please contact our Information Unit by calling 01226 216 123 or emailing: info@barnsley.ac.uk
Having good English and Maths qualifications are important for most careers and we want to give you the help you need to succeed.
If you are aged 16 - 19 and don't hold a grade C/4 or above in GCSE English and Maths, you will automatically be included in your study programme. If you want to work towards achieving a higher grade in English and Maths, we can help you do that too and we offer Level 3 Mathematical Studies (Core Maths) which maybe added to your study programme, subject to approval from your chosen department.
If you're aged 19 or above and don't hold a grade C/4 or above in GCSE English and Maths we can help. We offer FREE English and Maths qualifications that can be studied on a part-time basis, subject to eligibility.
If you need any further information, please contact our Information Unit by calling 01226 216 123 or emailing: info@barnsley.ac.uk
Our Additional Learning Support team can provide you with the support you need. Call 01226 216 769 for further information.
Barnsley College has a range of sports opportunities for all students to take part in, gain professional training and compete nationally and internationally. We also have a state-of-the-art fitness village, the Sports Village, where students can make use of our fitness suite, spinning studio and classes for competitive rates.
Barnsley Sports Academy offers state-of-the-art facilities and diverse sports programs, enabling students to achieve academic and athletic excellence. Remember, you don't have to be studying Sport to join Barnsley Sports Academy.
Disclaimer: Please note we reserve the right to change details without notice. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
The course information on this page was last updated 10 June 2025.
