T Level Technical Qualification in Education and Early Years (Level 3) (delivered by NCFE)
Ref:
610/5748/4
Sector:
Education and Training, Children and Young People, Early Years Educator
Features:
Teaching materials available Preparation for employment Performance points UCAS
Registration and first assessment fee:
£375.00
Level:
Level 3
Minimum entry age:
16
GLH:
920
TQT:
1012
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Important: This is the Generation 2 Education and Early Years T Level for delivery and registrations from September 2025.
If you have any queries about the Generation 2 Education and Early Years T Level, please take a look at our FAQs webpage.
About this qualification
The technical qualification (TQ) forms part of the T Level study programme.
The purpose of the T Level Technical Qualification in Education and Early Years is to ensure students have the knowledge and skills needed to progress into skilled employment or higher-level technical training relevant to the T Level.
UCAS points
The T Level study programme is eligible for UCAS points. Please check the UCAS website for more information.
Performance points
The TQ is eligible for performance points.
Who is it suitable for?
This TQ is suitable for post-16 students looking to develop both knowledge and skills in the education and early years sector.
This TQ will support students on to a range of progression routes including employment, higher education and higher apprenticeships.
What are the entry requirements?
This TQ is designed for post-16 students.
There are no specific prior skills/knowledge a student must have for this TQ. However, students would be expected to have a level 2 qualification or equivalent.
How is this qualification structured?
The TQ is split into 2 component parts:
Core component: the knowledge and underpinning concepts, theories and principles as well as core skills for the education and early years sector.
Occupational specialisms:
- Early Years Educator
- Assisting Teaching
Students will only complete one occupational specialism.
The occupational specialisms provide students with knowledge and skills required to enter employment or further study in the specific occupational area.
How is it assessed?
Core component:
- examination
- employer set project
To achieve a grade for the core component, the student must attempt both the core examination and employer set project (ESP) sub-components. The results from these will be aggregated to form the overall core component grade (A* to E and U).
If students do not attempt one of the sub-components, an overall component grade will be withheld, pending the attempt of both. If students fail to reach the minimum standard across sub-components after attempting both, they will receive a U grade for the component.
Occupational specialism component:
- synoptic assignments
The student is also required to successfully achieve a distinction/merit/pass grade in one of the occupational specialism components. If the student fails to reach the specified level of attainment, they will receive a U grade.
Experience in the workplace
As part of achieving the overall T Level programme, students are required to complete an industry placement. The hours required depend on their chosen occupational specialism:
- Early Years Educator – a minimum of 750 hours
- Assisting Teaching – a minimum of 315 hours
What related qualifications can you progress to?
Students who achieve this TQ could progress to the following:
- higher education
- apprenticeship
Career opportunities
Students who achieve this TQ could progress to the following, depending on their chosen occupational specialism:
- early years educator
- education technician
- primary/secondary/tertiary teaching and support assistant
Funding for our qualifications
Find out more about funding for this and other qualifications on our funding page.
Key dates
Please see the Key Dates Schedule below for a timeline of the key dates for this qualification.
T Level Technical Qualifications Key Dates Schedule 2025/2026 and 2026/2027
Useful links
Regulations for the conduct of external assessment
Qualification specific instructions for delivery (QSID)
Support materials
Qualification Specification – teaching from 1 September 2025 (PDF | 1692 KB)
Command Verbs & Amplification of Knowledge Statements (PDF | 150 KB)
Generation 2 Core Elements Guidance (PDF | 202 KB)
EEY – Core – Examination – SAMs – Question Paper (PDF | 474 KB)
EEY – Core – Examination – SAMs – Mark Scheme (PDF | 753 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE & AT – SAMs – Provider Guide (PDF | 511 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE & AT – SAMs – Task 1 – Generic brief (PDF | 329 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE & AT – SAMs – Task 2 – Generic brief (PDF | 309 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE & AT – SAMs – Task 3 – Generic brief (PDF | 318 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE & AT – SAMs – Task 4 – Generic brief (PDF | 269 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE & AT – SAMs – Mark Scheme (PDF | 285 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE – SAMs – Preliminary research activity (PDF | 204 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE – SAMs – Scenario and Control documents (PDF | 303 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE – SAMs – Task 1 – Pro-formas (PDF | 257 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE – SAMs – Task 2 – Pro-formas (PDF | 204 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE – SAMs – Task 4 – Pro-formas BKW (PDF | 205 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE – SAMs – Task 4 – Pro-formas GIBBS (PDF | 215 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – EYE – SAMs – Task 4 – Pro-formas KOLB (PDF | 209 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – AT – SAMs – Preliminary research activity (PDF | 185 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – AT – SAMs – Scenario and Control documents (PDF | 236 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – AT – SAMs – Task 1 – Pro-formas (PDF | 275 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – AT – SAMs – Task 2 – Pro-formas (PDF | 205 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – AT – SAMs – Task 4 – Pro-formas BKW (PDF | 204 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – AT – SAMs – Task 4 – Pro-formas GIBBS (PDF | 211 KB)
EEY – Core – ESP – AT – SAMs – Task 4 – Pro-formas KOLB (PDF | 207 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – All assignments – Provider Guide (PDF | 445 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 1 part 1 – Competence Observation Criteria – Assessor Guidance (PDF | 1469 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 1 part 1 – Competence Observation Criteria – Student Guide (PDF | 1469 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 1 part 2 – Structured Observations – Assessor Guidance (PDF | 748 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 1 part 2 – Structured Observations – Student Guide (PDF | 212 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 2 – Brief (PDF | 261 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 2 – Preliminary material (PDF | 147 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 2 – Mark Scheme (PDF | 531 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 3 part 1 (a) – Brief (PDF | 257 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 3 part 1 (a) – Observation Record Form template (PDF | 140 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 3 part 1 (b) – Brief (PDF | 255 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 3 part 2 – Scenario-based Questions (PDF | 276 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 3 part 2 – Scenario-based Questions – Insert (PDF | 205 KB)
EEY – OS – EYE – Assignment 3 part 1 (a), part 1 (b), part 2 – Mark Scheme (PDF | 371 KB)
EEY – OS – AT – All assignments – Provider Guide (PDF | 456 KB)
EEY – OS – AT – Assignment 1 – Assessor Guidance (PDF | 666 KB)
EEY – OS – AT – Assignment 1 – Student Guide (PDF | 267 KB)
EEY – OS – AT – Assignment 2 – Brief (PDF | 292 KB)
EEY – OS – AT – Assignment 2 – Preliminary Material (PDF | 154 KB)
EEY – OS – AT – Assignment 2 – Mark Scheme (PDF | 277 KB)
EEY – OS – AT – Assignment 3 – Briefs (PDF | 273 KB)
EEY – OS – AT – Assignment 3 – Insert (PDF | 131 KB)
EEY – OS – AT – Assignment 3 – Mark Scheme (PDF | 380 KB)
Support Handbook (PDF | 327 KB)
Assessment materials
Teaching materials
T Level EEY Core Schemes of Work
Schemes of Work to support delivery of the seven core elements of the qualification.
Free
T Level EEY Core 1.1
Three comprehensive session packs to support effective delivery of the qualification.
Free
T Level EEY Core 1.2
Three comprehensive session packs to support effective delivery of the qualification.
£45.00