T Level Education and Early Years

Employers sitting at desk with employees looking at a computer screen

Key Facts

Level: 3

Attendance: Full Time (FT)

Duration: 2 Years

Course Code: KTH0011

Start Date: September 2025

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Code: KTH0011

Apply Now

T Levels follow GCSEs and are equivalent to studying three A levels. T levels are an advanced level, 2-year technical qualification designed with employers to give you a head start towards the future you want. The qualification equips students with core knowledge and skills relevant to Educational and Early Years, up-to-date occupational knowledge and skills that have continued currency amongst employers, and occupational competence that meets employer expectations.

On the Education and Early Years T Level, you’ll learn a wide range of knowledge on topics needed to be successful in this rewarding sector. You will learn about key topics such as child development, supporting education, parents, families and carers and wellbeing.

The education and childcare sector offers a number of exciting job opportunities as:

Education is one of the largest employment sectors in Leicester and Leicestershire and is continuing to grow.
The need for a skilled and passionate workforce in the early years sector continues to be critical as high quality early years provision can have a positive and lasting impact on children’s development.

Features & Benefits

T Levels are designed to deliver world-class technical education and give you a new choice after GCSEs. The Education and Early Years T level has been designed with leading businesses and employers in the sector and gives you:

A thorough understanding of concepts and theories of the education and childcare sector.
The opportunity to solve real life problems in the education and childcare sector.
Valuable experience of learning from the experts through working side by side with those in the education and childcare sector on your industry placement so that you have the chance to learn what this career is like in the real world while you continue your studies.
Specialist knowledge and skills relating to either early years or supporting and mentoring students in further and higher education (depending on the specialism you choose in year 2)
Your T Level will be worth UCAS points – a T Level Distinction* is worth the same as 3 A Levels at A* – and will be recognised by universities and other education providers so you can choose to continue studying if you wish.
T Levels involve more classroom study than apprenticeships, which means you can experience an industry while you continue your studies.
The opportunity to join a growing and critical sector.
Direct employer involvement. 750 hours of industry placement with occupational competency achieved.

For September 2022, the college will be opening the new T Level Centre - a contemporay state-of-the-art learning environment. The Education and Early Years teaching facility will feature specialist equipment including:

Interchangeable learning environments to replicate different Early Years Approaches including Montessori, Reggio Emilia and Curiosity Approach.
Communication friendly spaces to prepeare for Industry Placements and personal development.
A collection of children’s books so learners can build confidence in reading to and with children to prepare them for their industrial placements as well as applying a lot of the theory behind communicating with children.
SIM babies that allow learners tp practice care needs for babies and demonstrate health and safety procedures.
Ipads and software that replicates the industry standard home/nursery communication software.

Course Content

Year 1 is made up of three key parts:

1. Core: Knowledge and understanding of contexts, concepts and theories of the education and childcare sector:

Child Development
Supporting Education
Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Wellbeing
Behaviour
Observation and Assessment
Equality and Diversity
Special Educational Needs and Disability
English as an Additional Language
Wider Context
Parents, Families and Carers
Working with others
Reflective Practice
English, Maths and digital skills needed in the education and childcare sector

2. Employer Set Project: A project set by education and childcare specialists that requires you to apply your knowledge to a real-life problem in the industry.

3. Industry Placement: Towards the end of the year, you will get the opportunity to put the knowledge and skills you have learned in to action as you start your industry placement. You will work with an external education or childcare employer provider to apply your knowledge and develop your technical skills in a real-life education or childcare workplace.

Year 2 is made up of two key parts:

1. You will specialise in: Early Years Education and Childcare; this specialism will enable you explore the skills knowledge and behaviours needed to:

Support and promote children’s play, development and early education
Develop relationships with children to facilitate their development
Plan, provide and review care, play and educational opportunities to enable children to progress
Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children
Work in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children’s development

2. Continuation of your Industry Placement; with an external education or childcare employer which will develop your technical skills and apply your knowledge in a workplace environment.

Across year one and two, you will complete at least 45 days in total working in the education and childcare sector, giving you valuable experience in the workplace and employers the chance to see the new talent in this sector.

Entry Requirements

GCSE English Language and maths at grade 4 and three other GCSEs at grade 4 or above.

A previous study of education and/or childcare is not a requirement; however, you should have an interest in this sector and be prepared to discuss this further at interview.

Please note: if you do not meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible to study a T Level Transition programme with us.

Progression

T Levels offer many opportunities for progression:

Progress to University: You can use the UCAS points you achieve as a result of completing your T level to continue your studies at university.
Enter Employment: You can use the skills, knowledge and experience you have gained to start working in the Education and Childcare industry.
Apprenticeship: There are many opportunities offered through apprenticeships that allow you to carry on learning (20%) whilst spending most of your time (80%) furthering your skills in the workplace.

There are a variety of careers you can pursue once you have completed the course as the knowledge, skills and behaviours you will develop are highly prized within a broad range of education and childcare professions for example: