Early Years Practitioner - Level 2

Summary

This qualification is designed to provide learners with the knowledge and understanding of babies and young children from birth to 7 years of age with applied knowledge in the early years (birth to 5 years).

It also provides introductory sector knowledge of professional practice to support wider contextual understanding of the EYP route and optional units that provide learners with transferable employability skills.

Next course dates

Start date Location Duration
02 Sep 2026
Bispham Campus
1 Year

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

These qualifications allow a learner to count towards the level 2 ratio as a qualified level 2 EYP within the early years workforce. 

Learners who achieve this qualification may work under supervision in a variety of roles, including: 

  • early years practitioner
  • classroom assistant
  • pre-school practitioner

Employment Opportunities

Learners who achieve this qualification may work under supervision in a variety of roles, including: 

• early years practitioner

• classroom assistant

• pre-school practitioner

Key information

Entry Requirements

GCSE Grade 3 (or equivalent) in English and maths

Plus

  • A successful interview with a tutor
  • The ability to study independently
  • A genuine interest in the subject
  • Good communication skills
  • Hardworking approach towards the industry

Qualification obtained

Technical Occupational Entry for the Early Years Practitioner (Diploma)

Fees and funding

Courses for learners who are 16-18 years old at the start of their course and resident in the UK are fully funded. You may also be entitled to further financial help to support your studies depending on your personal circumstances. For more details of these, please visit our page on Finance Support for School Leavers. 

If you are not a UK resident, we will confirm whether funding is available when we process your application. If not, you may be liable for course fees.

Extra costs and equipment

There are no mandatory resource requirements for these qualifications,

What will I learn?

This qualifications aims to:

• focus on the study of the early years sector 

• offer breadth and depth of study, incorporating a key core of knowledge 

• provide opportunities to acquire a number of practical and technical skills 

• provide learners with the knowledge and understanding of babies and young children from birth to 7 years of age with applied knowledge in the early years (birth to 5 years)

  • provide learners with introductory sector knowledge to support wider contextual understanding of the early years route
  • • provide learners with transferable employability skills

Essential skills: English and Maths

All school leavers at B&FC are encouraged to continue developing their English and maths skills as higher ability in both these subjects is linked to long-term career success and increased earning potential - irrespective of how well you performed at GCSE. If, however, you achieve a GCSE Grade 3 or less in either subject, you will also have the opportunity to work towards re-sitting these to enhance your paper-based qualifications. This won’t delay your career journey because you will be undertaking this programme of study at the same time as your chosen subject.

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

Learners will need to be working or on a practical work placement to be able to show competence in both knowledge and skills. This work placement can be pre-arranged by the learner or arranged by the college.

It is recommended that learners complete at least 250 placement hours while undertaking this qualification.

How will I learn?

The programme primarily focuses on theoretical knowledge but also includes practical hands-on elements to enhance learning and application. This flexible approach ensures that students can engage with the material in a way that best suits their needs. 

Interactive Lectures: Engaging lectures that encourage student participation and discussion. 

Group Work: Collaborative projects and activities that foster teamwork and communication skills. 

Practical Workshops: Hands-on sessions where students can apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios. 

Online Resources: Access to a wealth of online materials, including videos, articles, and interactive modules. 

These varied teaching methods ensure a comprehensive and dynamic learning experience

Expert tutors

You will be taught by a variety of industry experts to support your knowledge and understanding