NEW: Starting out

EARLY YEARS

LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATE FOR THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S WORKFORCE

Offered by: CACHE, Edexcel, City & Guilds, NCFE, OCR, EDI and ABC

This new Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce will be available from August 2010 and is called a certificate to indicate its size under the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).

It will confer occupational competence to work under supervision and enable practitioners to count in the ratio at Level 2 identified in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Credits: The certificate is 35 credits in size, and is made up of both knowledge and competence units.

The qualification has three mandatory Level 2 core units that are shared across Skills for Care and Development partners and 10 mandatory units at Level 2 which are generic across the Children and Young People's Workforce.

Some units in the latter bank are shared with the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) and Skills for Health (SfH).*

Units: The optional unit bank contains Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 units in order to facilitate progression to the Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce. It is anticipated that many learners will use this opportunity to gain credit for their Level 3.

Component parts of the qualification comprise:

Skills for Care and Development Core Mandatory (these units are mandatory for all SfCD qualifications).

• Introduction to Communication in Health, Social Care or Children and Young People's Settings

Introducing the importance of communication in such settings and exploring ways to overcome barriers to meet individual needs, wishes and preferences in communication.

• Introduction to Equality and Inclusion in Health, Social Care or Children and Young People's Settings

Introducing the concepts of equality, diversion and inclusion, and stressing their importance in challenging discrimination in a way that promotes change.

• Introduction to Personal Development in Health, Social Care or Children and Young People's Settings

Introducing the concepts of personal development and reflective practice, and exploring ways of implementing them.

Children and Young People core units

These units are mandatory and common to all undertaking the Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce.

• Contribute to the Support of Child and Young Person Development

Applying knowledge and understanding to supporting child and young person development and positive behaviour. Explaining how to give support to children and young people experiencing transitions.

• Contribute to Children and Young People's Health and Safety

Familiarising learners with health and safety procedures and risk management, and assessment both onand off-site. Covering how to deal with accidents, incidents, emergencies and illnesses, and how to prevent of the spread of infection.

• Contribute to the Support of Positive Environments for Children and Young People

Highlighting the importance of a positive environment for children and young people, and discussing how to create and support one. Explaining the need to support personal care routines as well as nutritional and dietary needs.

• Understand Partnership Working in Services for Children and Young People

Exploring the importance of partnership working, communication and information sharing, particularly with carers.

• Paediatric Emergency First Aid Unit 1

Providing practical skills and knowledge to deal with a range of paediatric emergency first aid situations including foreign body airway obstructions, bleeding and shock, concussion, burns and febrile convulsions.

• Child and Young Person Development (TDA)

• Safeguard the Welfare of Children and Young People (TDA)

• Support Children and Young People's Positive Behaviour (TDA)

• Maintain and Support Relationships with Children and Young People (TDA)

Optional units

Level 2 units:

• Support Children and Young People with Disabilities and SEN (TDA)

• Support Children and Young People's Play and Leisure (TDA)

• Support Children and Young People at Meal and Snack Times (TDA)

• Contribute to the Support of Children's Communication, Language and Literacy

• Contribute to the Support of Children's Creative Development

Level 3 units:

• Understand Child and Young Person Development

• Promote Child and Young Person Development

• Understand How to Safeguard the Wellbeing of Children and Young People

• Support Children and Young People's Health and Safety

• Develop Positive Relationships with Children, Young People and Others Involved in their Care

• Working Together for the Benefit of Children and Young People

• Understand How to Support Positive Outcomes for Children and Young People

• Support the Creativity of Children and Young People

• Understand the Speech, Language and Communication Needs of Children and Young People with Behavioural, Social and Emotional Difficulties

Level 4 unit:

• Understand the Needs of Children who are Vulnerable and are Experiencing Poverty and Disadvantage

*Students will be able to enrol on the following courses until December 2010:

- CACHE Level 2 Diploma in Childcare and Education

- CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Childcare and Education

- Edexcel Level 2 BTEC First Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development

NB. The Children's Workforce Development Council has not yet published the final draft copies of the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) units that are being shared with CWDC within the Level 2 Certificate for the Children & Young People's Workforce. This is because the TDA, which has developed the units, has not yet published them on its own website. CWDC will publish the units on its web page as soon as TDA makes them available.

Further information:

http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/qualifications/level-2-certificate-for-the- children-young-peoples-workforce/level-2-certificate-deta

CACHE LEVEL 2 AWARD/CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA IN CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION

(Enrolment to December 2010)

These courses prepare learners to work in a supervised capacity with children from 0-16 and their families in a variety of settings within children's services.

Course content: Units 1 and 2 are required for the Award, which offer an introduction to working with children and the developing child.

Units 1-5 are required for the Certificate. These look at safe, healthy and nurturing environments for children, children and play, and professional communication within the workplace.

For the Diploma, candidates must achieve units 1-6 plus one optional unit from a choice of five. Unit 6 is a practical unit in which learners will get the opportunity to work with children, carry out planned play activities and observe professional practice.

EDEXCEL LEVEL 2 BTEC FIRST DIPLOMA IN CHILDREN'S CARE, LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

(Enrolment to December 2010)

A vocational qualification related to the National Occupation Standards in Children's Care Learning and Development.

Course content: Core units comprise: values and interpersonal skills, physical, social and emotional development and good practice in childcare settings. Specialist units: children's activities and play, care for babies, postnatal care and working in partnerships with parents.

LEVEL 2 AWARD IN WORK WITH PARENTS

City & Guilds has developed a new suite of qualifications (Levels 2-4) that have been accredited for the QCF. Level 2 provides 12 credits, and requires the learner to complete one mandatory and two optional units.

It aims to:

• Provide learners with essential skills and knowledge to enable them to support parents in their parenting role.

• Provide experienced practitioners with recognition for their experience, knowledge and skills.

• Provide 'top-up' training and continuous professional development opportunities for staff working in the sector.

NVQ LEVEL 2 IN CHILDREN'S CARE, LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

(Enrolment to December 2010)

Awarded by City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI, Care Training East Midlands and the Open University.

Course content: There are seven units, six mandatory and one option topic. Topics that are covered include helping to keep children safe, supporting children's development, play and learning, and preparing environments to meet the needs of children.

TEACHING ASSISTANT

QCF LEVEL 2 AWARD IN SUPPORT WORK IN SCHOOLS

This is a new award currently under development, to be made available in September 2010.

Course content: Units include:

• Child and Young Person Development

• Safeguarding the Welfare of Children and Young People

• Communication and Professional Relationships with Children, Young People and Adults

• Schools as Organisations

QCF LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATE IN SUPPORTING TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SCHOOLS

This is a new award currently under development, to be made available in September 2010.

Mandatory units include:

• Support Children and Young People's Health and Safety

• Support Learning Activities

Maintain and Support Relationships with Children and Young People

• Help Improve Own Practice and Teamwork

Draft option unit titles include:

• Support the Use of ICT for Teaching and Learning

• Support Children and Young People's Play and Leisure

• Contribute to Supporting Bilingual Learners

• Support Children and Young People's Play and Leisure

• Support Children and Young People with Disabilities or Special Educational Needs

CACHE LEVEL 2 AWARD/CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA IN SUPPORT WORK IN SCHOOLS (SWS2)

(Enrolment to September 2010)

This is a work-based award, so you will need to be employed or working as a volunteer within a school setting.

Course content: There are two pathways to this qualification: the Award and the Certificate. The Award consists of two mandatory units and one optional unit, while the Certificate is two mandatory and two optional units.

CACHE LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATE IN SUPPORTING TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SCHOOLS

(Enrolment to September 2010)

An all-round course helping candidates to learn how to support teachers in schools.

Course content: The two units cover the role of teaching assistants in supporting teaching and learning, and delivery of the curriculum within a school.

CITY & GUILDS LEVEL 2 AWARD/CERTIFICATE IN SUPPORT WORK IN SCHOOLS

(Enrolment to December 2010)

These qualifications are designed to meet the needs of candidates who work as support workers in the schools sector and ensure the development of knowledge and skills relevant to school support work.

Course content: Core units cover exploring and responding to the needs of school pupils and the values, policies, roles and responsibilities of schools. Optional units vary across the Award and Certificate.

EDEXCEL LEVEL 2 BTEC CERTIFICATE FOR TEACHING ASSISTANTS

(Enrolment to September 2010)

Provides the knowledge and practical application of skills for teaching assistants, who work largely under supervision.

Course content: Five units covering learning environments, classroom practices, supporting oracy, literacy and numeracy, use of ICT, and supporting children's well-being and welfare.

NCFE LEVEL 2 AWARD/CERTIFICATE/EXTENDED CERTIFICATE IN SUPPORTING TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SCHOOLS

(Enrolment to December 2010)

These qualifications enable learners to understand the roles and responsibilities of those involved in supporting teaching and learning in schools, and provide an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge required to do this effectively.

Course content: Compulsory and optional units vary across the Award, Certificate and the Extended Certificate, but cover issues including health and safety, supporting literacy and numeracy, observing and reporting on children's behaviour, and supporting special educational needs or disabilities.

NVQ LEVEL 2 IN SUPPORTING TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SCHOOLS

(Enrolment to December 2010)

Awarded by CACHE, City & Guilds, Care Training East Midlands and Edexcel. The qualification is for people working or hoping to work as teaching assistants, or existing childcare staff who want to move into schools.

Course content: Mandatory units include: providing support for learning and keeping children safe. Optional units include: supporting literacy and numeracy activities, observing pupil performance and supporting play.

Career moves: Roles include teaching assistant, special needs assistant and learning support assistant. After achieving this qualification, learners can progress to the Level 3 NVQ in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.

PLAYWORK

QCF LEVEL 2 AWARD/CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA IN PLAYWORK

These qualifications will be available from 1 September 2010 from CACHE, City & Guilds and EDI.

Three qualifications have been developed at this level in order to give learners the opportunity to study in 'bite-sized' chunks. The Award is an introduction to the playwork sector, the Certificate enables entry to work and contains the content of the Award plus additional units, and the Diploma confers competence and contains the units from the Certificate plus additional assessment of practice options.

There are no formal entry requirements, although learners will need to be at least 16 years of age.

The Level 2 Award in Playwork is 10 credits, the Certificate is 25 credits (including those from the Award) and the full Diploma is a minimum of 61 credits, depending on the options chosen.

The Award comprises the following units:

• Playwork Principles

• Working within a Play Environment with Children and Young People

• Supporting Children and Young People's Play

In addition to these units, the Certificate also contains the following:

• Relationships to the Play Environment

• Health and Safety in the Play Environment

• The Safeguarding and Welfare of Children and Young People in the Play Environment

• Reflective Playwork Practice

• Developing own Playwork and Team Practice

The Diploma contains all of the above eight units, plus the following mandatory units:

• Support Relationships in the Play Environment

• Work with Children and Young People to Create Play Spaces and Support Freely Chosen, Self-Directed Play

• Contribute to the Health, Safety, Security and Welfare of the Children and Young People Using the Play Environment

• Help to Improve Own Practice and the Work of the Playwork Team

And two of the following options:

• Contribute to Providing Food and Drink in the Play Environment

• Facilitate a Specific Play Opportunity at Children or Young People's Request

• Support the Development of Playwork Opportunities in the Community

• Contribute to Supporting Disabled Children and Young People in the Play Environment

• Support Work with Parents and Carers in the Play Environment

• Support the Travel of Children and Young People outside the Play Environment

Assessment for these qualifications will cover a range of different methods and, for the Diploma, assessment of practice in the workplace.

CITY & GUILDS LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA IN PLAYWORK

(Enrolment to December 2010)

These are qualifications for anyone who works or wants to work with school-aged children (typically four to 16) in a variety of settings, which could include after-school clubs, adventure playgrounds, play schemes or as school lunch supervisors.

Course content: Compulsory and optional units vary across the Certificate and the Diploma. They cover a range of issues including health and safety, communicating with children, inclusive playwork and healthy eating.

NVQ LEVEL 2 IN PLAYWORK

(Enrolment to December 2010)

Awarded by: City & Guilds, CACHE, Edexcel

Provides a progression qualification for those working at assistant level in a playwork environment with children aged four upwards.

Course content: Six mandatory units, including: Supporting the Protection of Children from Abuse, Supporting Children and Young People's Play, Positive Relationships in the Playwork Setting, and Health and Safety in the Play Environment.

ENTRY-LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS

CACHE entry-level qualifications demonstrate that candidates have the basic knowledge, skills and abilities to apply learning in everyday situations, in which they must be supervised. They provide a step towards further education and training.

CACHE offers the Entry Level Certificate in Preparation for Childcare which provides training in caring for babies and toddlers at home.

CACHE also offers two qualifications at Level 1, which acts as a stepping-stone to Level 2.

The CACHE Level 1 Award in Getting Started in a Pre-school Setting, which covers the basic knowledge needed to begin working in a pre-school, has been accepted on to the 14-19 Diploma Additional and Specialist Learning Catalogue. This acceptance creates an extra stream of funding for the qualification, and means that schools may now have greater opportunity to deliver it to learners aged 14 and above.

The CACHE Foundation Award in Caring for Children involves a portfolio of evidence, a practical assignment and a multiple-choice question paper as well as a recommended placement in a setting.

APPRENTICESHIPS

A Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD) Apprenticeship is a combination of onand off-the-job education and training which involves working with children from birth to 16.

It is available at Levels 2 and 3. Apprentices work towards a technical qualification and also learn key skills in literacy and numeracy, and in Paediatric First Aid.

Specific qualifications candidates take will be:

• NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development

• Key skills at Level 1 or 2 in Communication and Application of Number

• Technical Certificate at Level 2 or 3

•  Paediatric First Aid Certificate

CCLD Apprenticeships are fully funded for those between 16 and 18.

CWDC is currently revising the CCLD apprenticeship frameworks to draw upon the success of the existing apprenticeship programme, encourage learners to undertake higher levels of study and define a progression route towards Early Years Professional Status.

A new Apprenticeship to include the new Level 2 Certificate and an Advanced Apprenticeship to embed the new Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce will be available in autumn 2010.

An apprenticeship framework for Integrated Youth Support including an Apprenticeship at Level 2 and an Advanced Apprenticeship at Level 3 is also being developed and should be ready in spring 2011.

Visit www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/apprenticeships for details.

Case study: MODERN APPRENTICE: DOMENICO DISTAZIO

Domenico Distazio has worked at Busy Bees' Letchworth nursery in Hertfordshire for eight months and will complete his NVQ as part of his apprenticeship in mid-July.

Domenico's ambition was always to work in childcare and this apprenticeship was ideal by combining practical experience with a qualification.

'I had previously worked in daycare and in a nursery and really enjoyed it, so when I saw the advertisement for an apprenticeship, I decided to go for it,' says Domenico.

'I'm in the nursery from 8am until 4pm, and I always do at least a couple of hours of studying in the evening. I have ensured I have kept up with all of the work and it has panned out well between my day in the nursery and time available to study.

'My first job when I arrive at the nursery is to make breakfast and set it out for the children. I also help with lunch and tea and oversee free-flow play and group-time activities.

'One of the biggest challenges for me has been learning how to feed back to parents. You have to think very carefully about what you say and how to approach them. But I am finding this easier now.

'What I like best is interacting with the pre-school children, reflecting on their responses and building up a real understanding of each individual child through observation.

'I will be staying on at this nursery after I have completed my apprenticeship. I would like to work as a nursery assistant for a while and then move up to nursery practitioner. In the not too distant future I would like to take an NVQ Level 4 and eventually I would like to become a nursery manager. I would really enjoy that.'