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NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator)
Ref:
601/4000/8
Sector:
Health, Public Services and Care, Early Years Educator
Features:
Licence to Practice, Learning Resources Available, UCAS, Nested Qualification
Registration & certification fee:
£260.50
Level:
Level 3
Minimum entry age:
16
GLH:
1071
TQT:
1358
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Important: This qualification will withdraw on 31 August 2024 and this is the last date we can accept learner registrations. The last date for certificate claims is 31 August 2027.
Although there will be no direct replacement qualification, centres/learners will have a choice of new updated equivalent early years educator (EYE) qualifications that will be available from 1 September 2024.
This qualification has been allocated UCAS points. Please refer to the UCAS website for further details of the points allocation and the most up-to-date information.
What does the qualification cover?
The Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator) enables learners to gain the knowledge and experience which will allow them to work with children from birth to 5 years. Upon achievement of the Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education it is intended that learners will be able to access higher education or enter the workforce as Early Years Educators.
What is a nested qualification?
This qualification is nested. Qualifications within a nested suite allow learners to be topped up to a qualification that is the same level and subject within the Award, Certificate, Diploma structure. This can be done by self-service through the Portal. Qualification nests and top-up pricing can be found in our fees list.
Who is it suitable for?
This qualification is suitable for a range of learners either working or wishing to work in early years education and care. The Diploma is also suitable for those wishing to progress to higher education.
What are our entry requirements for commencing the qualification?
You should be at least 16 years old. We do not set any other entry requirements but colleges or training providers may have their own guidelines.
English and maths requirements
Learners who achieved a full and relevant level 3 or above qualification after 1 September 2014 will need to hold a suitable level 2 English qualification in order to count within the staff:child ratios at level 3. In addition, from January 2024, a manager or a learner that starts in a manager role will also need to hold a suitable level 2 maths qualification.
Education Funding Agency-funded learners
Learners aged 16-19 (and learners aged 19-24 with learning difficulties and/or disabilities) funded by the Education Funding Agency will not require GCSE English and maths grade A* - C prior to commencing their Early Years Educator qualification. However, the Department for Education expect learners without English and/or maths GCSE at grade C to be offered and encouraged to take up GCSEs as part of their Study Programme. From 2016/17 learners will need to have completed or be studying GCSE English and maths to have their study programme funded.
Rules of combination for the Diploma:
In order to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator) learners must complete 15 mandatory units, including all the criteria learners must know about which is contained within the delivery guidance. Learners must also complete an Effective Practise Study Task and one Extended Assessment (externally set, externally marked).
There are two early exit points; the first on achievement of the Award and the second on achievement of the Certificate.
Each unit throughout the qualification will be graded A*-D with the qualification overall grading being A* - D.
Assessment opportunities
Assessment opportunities for all the externally set and marked assessments for the Certificate and Diploma will be limited to one attempt and one further reattempt opportunity to undertake an alternative assessment.
External assessment timetable
Please see the external assessment timetable for a breakdown of the assessment dates for this qualification.
Useful links
Regulations for the conduct of external assessment
Qualification specific instructions for delivery (QSID)
Support materials
Mandatory qualification information
Qualification specification (PDF | 1040 KB)
Qualification specification (Word) (DOCX | 747 KB)
Additional qualification information
Purpose statement (PDF | 105 KB)
Qualification factsheet (PDF | 124 KB)
Letters of endorsement/support
HEI letters of support – diploma (PDF | 380 KB)
PACEY letter of support – diploma (PDF | 55 KB)
Teaching/delivery guidance
Tutor guidance (PDF | 1028 KB)
Tutor guidance (Word) (DOCX | 696 KB)
Mentoring programme (PDF | 221 KB)
Mentoring programme (Word) (DOCX | 349 KB)
Learner guidance
Learner handbook (PDF | 1896 KB)
Learner handbook (Word) (DOCX | 890 KB)
Support Handbook
Support Handbook (PDF | 327 KB)
Assessment materials
NCFE have password protected the latest external assessment past-paper, mark scheme and chief examiner report. You are now able to use these as current and valid mock assessments. To access the documents, you will need a Portal login. If you do not have a Portal login please contact your Portal administrator.
External Assessment Cover Sheet (EACS)
External assessment cover sheet (DOCX | 50 KB)
External assessment guidance
Cache Assessment Themes Aug 2023 (PDF | 94 KB)
Exemplar CACHE Evidence Uploads (PDF | 220 KB)
Effective practice study
EPS1 effective practice study task 1 (PDF | 234 KB)
EPS1 effective practice study tutor learner information and requirements (PDF | 496 KB)
EPS2 effective practice study task 2 (PDF | 211 KB)
EPS2 effective practice study tutor learner information and requirements (PDF | 478 KB)
Extended assessment
EA1 extended assessment task 1 (PDF | 236 KB)
EA1 extended assessment tutor learner information and requirements (PDF | 498 KB)
EA2 extended assessment task 2 (PDF | 234 KB)
EA2 extended assessment tutor and learner information and requirements (PDF | 477 KB)
Chief examiner reports - EYE EPS
Chief examiner report EYE/EPS January 2024 (PDF | 126 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EPS September 2023 (PDF | 112 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EPS April 2023 (PDF | 115 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EPS January 2023 (PDF | 69 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EPS September 2022 (PDF | 61 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EPS April 2022 (PDF | 64 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EPS January 2022 (PDF | 48 KB)
Chief examiner reports - EYE EA
Chief examiner report EYE/EA January 2024 (PDF | 98 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EA November 2023 (PDF | 91 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EA May 2023 (PDF | 122 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EA January 2023 (PDF | 87 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EA September 2022 (PDF | 143 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EA May 2022 (PDF | 64 KB)
Chief examiner report EYE/EA January 2022 (PDF | 112 KB)
Internal assessment guidance
EYE unit 15 professional practice portfolio (PDF | 325 KB)
EYE unit 8 professional practice portfolio (PDF | 430 KB)
Supplementary answer booklet
Supplementary Answer Booklet (PDF | 140 KB)
Teaching materials
Hodder Education Textbook
Price
Refer to external link
Unit breakdown
Mandatory units
Child Development From Conception to Seven Years (F/506/5384)
Children's Health and Well-Being (J/506/5385)
Providing Safe Environments for Children (L/506/5386)
Child Health (Y/506/5388)
Play and Learning (Y/506/5391)
Understanding Children's Additional Needs (H/506/5393)
Observation, Assessment and Planning (M/506/5395)
Professional Practice Portfolio 1 (R/506/5387)
Supporting Emergent Literacy (D/506/5389)
Supporting Emergent Mathematics (R/506/5390)
Preparing for School Readiness (D/506/5392)
International Perspectives (K/506/5394)
Reflective Practice for Professional Development (T/506/5396)
Professional Partnerships in Early Years (A/506/5397)
Professional Practice Portfolio 2 (F/506/5398)
Extended Assessment (EYE/EA)
Effective Practice Study (EYE/EPS)