About this qualification
The Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Management) (Northern Ireland) is intended for use in Northern Ireland only. It is designed to guide and assess the development of knowledge and skills relating to children's care, learning and development including those relating to leading teams and managing staff and resources within early years and childcare settings for children under the age of 12 years in Northern Ireland. This qualification will confer occupational competence to work in a leadership and management role.
Who is it suitable for?
This qualification is suitable for assistant managers and deputy managers working in children’s care, learning and development in Northern Ireland, who are looking to progress in their career. It is also appropriate for managers who have not yet achieved a vocational qualification at this level. Learners must be in positions that enable substantial opportunity to lead and manage services and teams over the duration of the qualification.
What are the entry requirements?
This qualification is primarily intended for leaders and managers working in registered early years and childcare provision in Northern Ireland for children under the age of 12 years. Learners must be in positions that enable substantial opportunity to lead and manage services and teams over the duration of the qualification. Learners may find it helpful if they have already achieved a level 3 qualification.
This qualification is not suitable for learners who are on placement in statutory provision such as schools, nursery schools/nursery units. Learners in this type of provision will not be leading practice in the right context nor will they be managing staff or teams and so are unlikely to be able to meet the requirements of the qualification.
More information can be found in the Qualification Specification.
How is this qualification structured?
To achieve this qualification learners are required to successfully complete 72 credits from the 14 mandatory units and a minimum of 18 credits from the 14 optional units.
How is it assessed?
Internally assessed and externally quality assured portfolio of evidence.
How many credits are required to complete it?
90 credits.
Do you need to be working to take this qualification?
This qualification is primarily intended for leaders and managers working in registered early years and childcare provision in Northern Ireland for children under the age of 12 years. Learners must be in positions that enable substantial opportunity to lead and manage services and teams over the duration of the qualification.
The following types of services are likely to provide sufficient opportunity for the development of the key knowledge, understanding and practical and technical skills needed to generate robust and reliable evidence of competency required to achieve the qualification:
• Full day care – settings that care for children under the age of 12 years for a continuous period of 4 hours or more in any day, in premises which are not domestic
• Sessional care – settings that care for children under the age of 12 years for less than a continuous period of 4 hours in any day.
What related qualifications can you progress to?
Learners who achieve the Diploma could progress to a Foundation Degree in a related discipline.
Career opportunities
This qualification is suitable for Assistant Managers and Deputy Managers working in children’s care, learning and development in Northern Ireland, who are looking to progress their career.
Funding for our qualifications
Find out more about funding for this and other qualifications on our funding page.