Certificate in Early Years Practice
On this page
Certificate
- Code
- C37
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Made up of
- 60 credit points
Description
The Certificate in Early Years Practice (Level 4) is a vocationally-oriented qualification which will enhance your existing role and is an integral qualification in the Foundation Degree in Early Years (G01). It takes account of the training needs of a wide range of practitioners working in a variety of early years settings. These include childminders, pre-school leaders/practitioners, childcare workers, unqualified nursery teachers, teaching assistants, nursery nurses, outreach play workers, and others working voluntarily in schools, Children Centres, day nurseries and out of school contexts.
This certificate is for those who want a qualification in early years practice either in its own right or as an interim qualification towards the Foundation Degree in Early Years (G01), the Diploma of Higher Education in Early Years (E37) the BA Early Years (B51), the BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies (B23) or any other degree that includes early years practice courses.
On successfully completing the Foundation Degree it is possible to continue to study and train to progress to Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) and/or Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The Open University (OU) offers pathways to achieving EYPS in partnership with the National Day Nurseries Association. For more information about achieving EYPS see the National Day Nurseries Association website. Please note that the OU does not offer courses for QTS in the early years and primary age range. See our booklet Becoming a Teacher which has been prepared to help those who are considering teaching as a career. You should check with your local training provider about their entry policy or contact the Training and Development Agency for Schools (the TDA) for more information.
The Certificate in Early Years Practice is included in the Children’s Workforce Development Council's Qualifications list for those delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage. This list has information about qualifications that OFSTED accept for regulatory purposes and guidance about suitable job roles for those who have achieved different qualifications. The OU’s Certificate in Early Years Practice is listed as an acceptable course at level 4.
The Certificate has qualified status for classroom assistants in Northern Ireland. In Scotland the Certificate is recognised at Support Worker Level.
The Certificate is also part of the OU Foundation Degree in Early Years which is recognised by the Children's Workforce Development Council as an Early Years Sector-Endorsed Foundation Degree. A foundation degree at Level 5 in early years, childcare or playwork will be considered full and relevant for the purposes of registration and regulation, which means that anyone holding this qualification can count in the qualified ratio of staff at Level 3.
To undertake the OU Foundation Degree in Early Years you must be a current practitioner with at least two years experience of working directly with young children in a relevant setting, and normally qualified to level 3.
Planning your studies
You must be working with young children, in either a paid or voluntary capacity, in an early years setting prior to starting these courses for six months full-time or one year part-time. During your studies, you must be working directly with young children in either a paid or voluntary capacity in a relevant early years setting. This should be for the minimum of five hours a week in term-time in order for you to complete the work-related assignments in the course. You and your employer will need to complete a permission agreement form confirming the above requirements before you begin studying. If you are working in a primary school, you will need access to children aged between 3-7 years in order to complete the certificate.
You will need to meet the ‘fit person’ criteria as required for the setting and country in which you are working, including obtaining the necessary criminal record clearance. It is your responsibility and that of your employer to ensure that you meet these requirements, rather than the OU. You should contact the relevant agency in your country for more information if you are in doubt about your eligibility. See our Childhood and Youth website for information about who to contact in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales about criminal record clearance.
Courses
For this certificate you require:
60 points from the following course:
| Level 1 compulsory course | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Oct 2010 |
* This course is a replacement for the two 30-point courses E123 and E124. If you have successfully studied one of these courses and wish to study the other to complete the certificate, there is an opportunity to do so. However there is a time limit for studying this certificate. You must obtain the required 60 credit points within 4 years of starting the first course. E123 and E124 will be presented for the last time in October 2011. Please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service for further advice.
Please note that EZL123 and EZL124 cannot be counted towards the Certificate in Early Years Practice.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.
On completion
On successful completion of the required course you will be awarded a Certificate in Early Years Practice.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
About this page
An undergraduate qualification in Childhood and Youth, Education and Health and Social Care.
Study explained
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
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