Access to HE Diploma (Early Years)

Rules of Combination

Learners must complete 45 graded credits at level 3 from 'academic subject content' units. 30 credits must be taken from the mandatory group. A maximum of 6 credits must be taken from the Research optional group and the remaining 9 credits must be taken from the Early Years optional group.

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Units

Intended learner groups

a) Adults who, because of social, educational or individual circumstances may have achieved few, if any, prior qualifications and wish to progress to HE
b) Adults who have gone straight into industry (perhaps following apprenticeship routes) who wish to progress to HE.

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How this diploma meets learners' needs

The Diploma will provide learners with underpinning skills to support academic study and provide a level 3 qualification linked to their proposed HE study.

A broad range of knowledge will be acquired which support an understanding of child development and teaching and learning that will ensure that the learner is fully prepared for progression onto the relevant degrees.

The mandatory units include an introduction to child development and practices within early years settings. Optional units can be selected that will support progression onto the chosen degree programme and include learning and development, healthy living, the impact of socio-economic status and culture on child development. Learners will have the opportunity to research an aspect of early years practice which interests them.

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What this diploma covers

The units include a balance of child development and early years practice which allow the learners to keep their options open until they have fully decided on their preferred route at degree level. The ungraded units have been chosen to support both progression into higher education and also to allow the learners to develop skills relevant to the subject area e.g. maths and English skills which will be important to support initial assessments for teaching programmes.

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Delivery methods

Face to face
Blended learning

Work placements would also be beneficial and visits to different early years settings would widen opportunities.

Assessment methods include: Essays, projects, presentations, self-evaluation, case studies, structured questions, literature review, exams, reports, production of resources and schemes of work, academic posters, observation, timeline, glossary.

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Progression routes

BA (Hons) Early Years
Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons)
BA (Honours) Early Childhood
Early Years Foundation Degree FdA
BA (Hons) Early Years and Special and Inclusive Education
BA (Hons) Education Studies and Early Years
BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies
BA (Honours) Education Studies (Primary)
BA (Hons) Education
BSc (Hons) Education
BEd (Hons) Bachelor of Education Honours Degree Primary with QTS

In addition, progression could be onto a higher level or degree apprenticeship including:
Early Years Lead Practitioner (degree)
Early Years Senior Practitioner
Teacher

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Provider approval criteria

No specific resources above provider approval criteria.

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Progression route entry requirements

Learners will require a pass in maths and English at GCSE level to progress onto a degree course. They are likely to require a pass in a science subject if they wish to undertake a teaching degree course. Students will be required to pass the Professional Skills tests in literacy and numeracy before starting degree programmes leading to QTS.

During registration on the programme, students will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) barred list and criminal records check, and a Disqualification by Association.

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Funding information

There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.

The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:

View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website

The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).

View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search

How to find a learning aim

If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:

How to Use: Find a learning Aim

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Additional funding information for Access to HE

• Access to HE is eligible for funding as part of the legal entitlement offer.
• Access to HE is eligible for funding via Advanced Learner Loans and appears on the Advanced Learner Loans catalogues published by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
• Access to HE Diplomas are designed for adult learners aged 19+ and the ESFA only funds young people on these programmes by exception, as stated in paragraph 149, page 39 of the Funding guidance for young people 2020 to 2021.

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We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.

This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.

The following support materials will help you deliver this qualification.

Access to HE Quick Guides

Information for Access Centres

Access to HE Administration

Assignment briefs

Centres approved to deliver our Access to HE Diplomas can download assignment briefs for a selection of units in this Diploma. Assignment briefs can be downloaded by logging to Prism and locating the relevant unit. More assignment briefs are being added not all units currently have assignment briefs available.

The assignment briefs can be easily adapted to suit your needs. We recommend checking the rules of combination for the Diploma and adapting the brief accordingly.

To provide a flavour of what’s available, you can download the below samples for free:

• Assignment Brief – Preparation for Higher Education – QU007638
• Assignment Brief – Safeguarding Children Young People and-or Vulnerable Adults – QU025409

Log in to Prism to download more assignment briefs