29 Nov 2021
This qualification is being withdrawn
The operational end date (last date for new starts) of this qualification is 31/07/2021 and the certification end date is 31/07/2022.
Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Prepare for further learning or training and/or develop knowledge and/or skills in a subject area
Qualification Grading Type
Pass
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
These qualifications are intended to provide learners with a broad introduction to the childcare sector, equipping learners with underpinning knowledge and skills specific to the sector alongside a range of transferable employability skills. They are designed to support progression to further learning and ultimately to work in childcare or other related sectors.
The Skills for Childcare qualifications form part of our Suite of Skills qualifications that cover a number of sectors and are available at Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2. The employability skills units are common across the suite, enabling easy transfer of credits between qualifications and supporting opportunities for cross-faculty working.
The qualifications have been developed with the support of a number of further education colleges, training providers and adult and community learning providers. They have been designed to be consistent with the principles for study programmes for 16-19 year olds but are also relevant, particularly in the case of the smaller qualifications, for adults including the unemployed. These qualifications are also suitable for pre 16 learners.
Rules of Combination
Learners must achieve 15 credits. They must complete the two mandatory units from Group M (Mandatory Units), totalling 5 credits. In addition, they must complete a minimum of 7 credits from Group O1 (Optional units: Childcare) and 3 further credits from either Group O1 or Group O2 (Optional units: Employability Skills). At least 10 credits must be at level 2 or above. Learners cannot include more than one unit with the same or similar title. For full details see list of barred units.
Units
Learners must complete a minimum of 7 credits from this group.
Activities for Children and Young People
Basic First Aid Principles
Caring for Young Children in a Babysitting Environment
Child-Minding
Children's Play and Leisure Activities in the Community
Communicating with Children or Young People
Communicating with Parents and Carers in Children's or Young People's Settings
Contribute to the Physical Care of Babies and Young Children
Craft Activities for Young Children
Equality and Inclusion in Health, Social Care or Children's and Young People's Settings
Food Safety in Health and Social Care and Children's and Young People's Settings
Food and Nutrition for Children and Young People
Infection Prevention and Control in Health and Social Care or Children's and Young People's Settings
Intellectual and Language Development of Children and Young People
Musical Activities for Young Children
Partnership-Working in Services for Children and Young People
Physical Development of Children and Young People
Science Activities for Young Children
Social and Emotional Development of Children and Young People
Supporting Children and Young People's Play and Leisure
Supporting Children's or Young People's Relationships
Supporting Positive Behaviour in Children's and Young People's Settings
Supporting the Development of Babies and Young Children
Team Work in Health, Social Care or Children's and Young People's Settings
Technology Activities for Young Children
Travel Outside Children's or Young People's Settings
Value of Play and Recreational Activity to Children and Young People
Working in Children's and Young People's Settings
Learners must complete the two mandatory units from Group M (Mandatory Units), totalling 5 credits.
Child Protection and Safeguarding Children
Context, Principles and Values for Children's and Young People's Care
Learners may complete up to 3 credits from this group.
Applying for a Job
Assessing own Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills
Books, Stories, Poems and Rhymes for Children
Career Planning
Effective Communication in the Workplace
Effectiveness at Work
Health and Safety in the Workplace
Interview Skills
Introduction to Self-Employment
Leadership Skills
Learning from Work Placement
Physical Activities for Children
Preparing Food For and Feeding Babies
Preparing for Work Placement
Preparing for an Interview
Searching for a Job
Setting and Meeting Targets at Work
Skills for Creative Thinkers
Skills for Effective Participants
Skills for Independent Enquirers
Skills for Reflective Learners
Skills for Self Managers
Skills for Team Workers
Solving Work-Related Problems
Support for New Parents
Time Management
Using Numeracy Skills in the Workplace
Working in a Team
Working with Colleagues
Working with Customers
What is the purpose of this qualification?
This qualification is intended to provide learners with a broad introduction to the childcare sector, equipping learners with underpinning knowledge and skills specific to the sector alongside a range of transferable employability skills.
It is designed to support progression to further learning and ultimately to work in childcare or other related sectors.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification provides a range of introductory skills, as well as core knowledge, relevant to childcare, alongside generic employability skills which are needed both in the childcare sector and across other sectors. Mandatory units include:
• Context, Principles and Values for Children’s and Young People’s Care
• Child Protection and Safeguarding Children
Optional units include knowledge and skills relevant to different job roles in the sector (such as children’s food and nutrition, activities with children, development of children) alongside generic employability skills (such as leadership skills and setting and meeting targets at work).
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
This qualification is part of a suite which includes an Award, Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma. Learners should take the Certificate if they need a broad introduction to the sector, as well as more generic workplace skills, before progressing to employment (with further training where possible), to a level 3 Apprenticeship or to a Level 3 qualification, as illustrated in the target learner profiles provided above. The Certificate may also be the most appropriate size of qualification for learners who have not yet achieved Level 2 English and Maths and need to include significant learning time for these subjects within their learning programme.
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification could lead to a number of roles in childcare such as nursery assistant, or play-worker.
How will this qualification support the learner’s independence?
Learners can progress to a Level 3 certificate or diploma in Childcare in any of the available pathways such as Childcare and Education, Early Learning and Childcare, Children’s Play, Learning and Development, including Tech level qualifications, or to an advanced Apprenticeship in Childcare in any of the available pathways.
Progression & entry requirements
Learners do not need any prior qualifications or a specific level of attainment to take this qualification although they will benefit from having English and Maths skills at level 1. It is available to learners aged 16+, however it is anticipated that it will be of specific relevance to: • Young people interested in a career in the childcare sector who intend, but are not yet ready, to access level 3 qualifications or an advanced apprenticeship • Young people and adults usually with prior attainment at level 1 and below, including those who have had a significant break from or disjointed experience of education, who wish to work in the childcare sector but need a broad grounding in the subject and an opportunity to develop more general workplace skills before applying for work.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
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 to deliver this qualification.
Special Considerations and Reasonable Adjustment Forms
- Indicative content is provided for units within this qualification. This can be found via the Structure and Unit Details tab, or recognised Centres can login to Prism.
Related Qualifications
- Gateway Qualifications Level 2 Diploma In Skills for Childcare
- Gateway Qualifications Level 2 Award In Skills for Childcare
- Gateway Qualifications Level 2 Extended Certificate in Skills for Childcare
- Gateway Qualifications Level 2 Certificate in Childcare
- Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Certificate In Skills for Childcare