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.

About this qualification

This qualification is designed to provide learners with underpinning knowledge and skills needed when working with children. It covers a diverse range of job roles and occupational areas in children’s settings, including early years. The qualification then builds on this knowledge and provides extended knowledge and skills to further learners understanding and provide a stepping stone into higher education.

The Level 3 Diploma for Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Northern Ireland) sits within this qualification. Successful achievement of the diploma units will confirm competence in these areas and serve as the required qualification for all new practitioners for registration and regulatory requirements in Northern Ireland.

Who is it suitable for?

It is suitable for those who wish to work, or are working at an unsupervised level in children’s care, learning and development in Northern Ireland or for those who wish to progress into higher education. 

What are the entry requirements?

There are no specific prior skills/knowledge a learner must have for this qualification. However, learners may find it helpful if they have already achieved a level 2 qualification.

How is this qualification structured?

To achieve this qualification learners are required to successfully complete 136 overall credits. 56 credits from the 8 diploma mandatory units, 14 credits from the diploma optional units, 66 credits from the 7 extended diploma graded mandatory units and 1 (one) external assessment.

How is it assessed?

The assessment consists of an internally assessed portfolio of evidence and an externally set and assessed extended assessment.

Do you need to be working to take this qualification?

All learners MUST have access to either employment or work experience in a real work setting to support them to develop and practice their skills, and apply their knowledge at an appropriate level. This ensures that learners are able to demonstrate consistent competence at level 3 to meet the requirements of this qualification. 

Learners must have access to between 600 and 700 hours in a work setting that will facilitate development of their skills and knowledge at level 3.

What related qualifications can you progress to?

Learners could progress to higher education or alternatively they could progress to the NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma for Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Management) (Northern Ireland) (603/6040/9).

Career opportunities

The qualification confers occupational competence for child care, learning and development in Northern Ireland. Learners could progress to the following job roles: 

• day care room supervisor
• child care assistant
• child minder
• nursery practitioner
• pre-school worker
• out of school childcare worker

Bundle offer

There is a bundle offer available for centres if they register learners on the Level 3 Diploma and Level 3 Extended Diploma at the same time. Using bundle code NDF4400, centres will receive a discounted price for the two qualifications, only paying for the Extended Diploma registration.

Funding for our qualifications

Find out more about funding for this and other qualifications on our funding page.

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)