EDUCATION AND
EARLY YEARS T-LEVEL

Level 3 T-Level Technical Qualification in Education and Early Years: Education (QN)

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Course Level

Level 3

Duration

2 years full-time

Placement

750 hours

Entry

September

Fees

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Department of Education
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Get an industry-recognised qualification equivalent to three A-levels

Clear route to progress into a skilled career or university study

Are you thinking about a future working in childcare, early years or education? Do you want to get a qualification that will help you progress towards further study and jobs in this field? Our T-level Education and Early Years Level 3 course will give you the foundation you need to set you on the path towards your ideal career.

University College Birmingham is one of the very first colleges in the UK to offer the new T-level qualification, which combines learning in the classroom with gaining vital ‘on-the-job’ experience. As part of our two-year Education and Early Years course, you will gain core knowledge of subjects such as supporting education, health and wellbeing, safeguarding and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), before having the opportunity to specialise in your second year through studying either an early years educator or assisting teaching pathway. You will also develop a range of technical and practical skills that employers are looking for.

Equivalent to three A-levels, this T-level course will help you boost your employment prospects by gaining extensive experience on a work placement in a real-world environment, supported by experts in our Hired employability team. By completing this industry-recognised qualification, you could progress onto many different roles such as early years educator or teaching assistant, as well as gaining UCAS points to enable your progression onto study at university.

Why choose this college course?

  • BOOST YOUR SKILLS – Build key skills and knowledge related to education and childcare, as well as enhancing your English, maths and digital skills
  • SPECIALISE YOUR STUDIES – Shape your learning to match your career aims by specialising in either the Early Years Educator or Assisting Teaching pathway
  • WORK PLACEMENT – Get to know the world of work and gain essential industry experience through a work placement
  • PRACTICAL APPLICATION – Experience learning in a variety of environments including use of our Early Years simulation suite
  • RECOGNISED QUALIFICATION – Our Education and Early Years T-level has been designed in collaboration with businesses to ensure your skills meet employers’ needs and expectations
There are lots of reasons why we think you should study with us, but here are our top 5. View video.

Our facilities

Students on our college education and childcare courses have the opportunity to learn in our Early Years simulation and practice development suite, providing a safe environment to help you prepare for placement, consolidate your learning and further refine your skills guided by our experienced staff.

Early years simulation suite - University College Birmingham

Our Early Years simulation suite is divided into five different learning zones to reflect the diversity of practice in the sector

The suite contains a digital zone, creative zone, discovery zone, imagination zone and sensory zone

Course breakdown

Topics you will study:

Year 1

Core knowledge and understanding

  • Supporting Education
  • Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Wellbeing
  • Behaviour
  • Parents, Families and Carers
  • Working with Others
  • Child Development
  • Observation and Assessment
  • Reflective Practice
  • Equality and Diversity
  • Special Educational Needs and Disability
  • English as an Additional Language

Year 2

Occupational Specialism: Choose from either Early Years Educator or Assisting Teaching

Occupational Specialism: Early Years Educator

  • Supporting and promoting children’s play, development and early education
  • Developing relationships with children to facilitate their development
  • Planning, providing and reviewing care, play and educational opportunities to enable children to progress
  • Safeguarding and promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of children
  • Working in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children’s development

Occupational Specialism: Assisting Teaching

  • Focus on children and young people aged 5-19 years
  • Support the class teacher to enhance children’s education, individually and in groups
  • Plan, provide and review educational opportunities in collaboration with teachers and other adults
  • Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children and young people
  • Recognise, adapt and respond to individual children’s needs, including those with SEND, to support development and access to the curriculum

Please note: Units/topics of study are subject to change

Entry requirements

Our education lecturers are looking for students who are committed, enthusiastic and have a desire to excel in the early years and care sector, so please contact Admissions if you do not have the specific requirements outlined below.

If you are unsure if your qualification is equivalent or if you wish to check if you meet the entry requirements for this course, please call 0121 214 2919, email feadmissions@ucb.ac.uk or use our live chat.

Academic requirements

  • 4 GCSEs at grade 4 (grade C) including English (Language or Literature) and Maths, or equivalent.

English and maths

As applicants are required to achieve English and Maths at grade 4 (grade C) prior to entering this course, University College Birmingham will not offer English or Maths alongside this T-level.

Supporting documents required

School applicants will be required to provide a good school report, which must include attendance. This will be assessed in conjunction with your qualifications and application during the confirmation of your place at University College Birmingham.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

This course requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information about the DBS check and how to apply for it will be sent to you by our placement team after enrolment. University College Birmingham will coordinate and fund the completion of the DBS check.

Applicant criteria

As this is a 2-year study programme, you will need to be aged 16 to 18 to apply for this course.

Currently, T-level courses are only funded for learners who are under the age of 19 at the point of enrolment. However, the government is currently reviewing the T-level pathway for mature learners, which we hope will be available in the future. If you would like to apply for a related course, please consider Access to Higher Education Diploma (Education).

Placement

T-level courses require you to complete a minimum of 750 hours (approximately 94 days) on placement over the two years. You will be required to work with our Hired team to secure your placement.

Guaranteed progression

Students who achieve 56 UCAS points or more from this qualification will automatically be guaranteed a place on a degree course at University College Birmingham. Some undergraduate courses require additional entry requirements, so applicants are advised to check entry requirements before applying.

Key information

Teaching and assessment

To achieve this qualification, you must successfully demonstrate your achievement of the Core Component and Occupational Specialism Component. 

The Core Component is 100% externally assessed. The assessment consists of:

  • Paper A written examination
  • Paper B written examination
  • Employer-set project

The Occupational Specialism Components are also externally assessed, except for the observation element, which is internally marked and externally moderated by NCFE.

Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2025-2030.

Uniform and kit costs

This course requires a uniform and kit costing approximately £30, depending on the items you purchase. (Prices are subject to change each year – exact costs and information on how to order required items will be provided to you prior to enrolment.)

Percentage
70%

of graduate employers say relevant experience is essential to getting a job with them

Work placements

Work placements offer a wealth of benefits alongside your studies, helping you put your learning into practice, develop your skills and understanding of the workplace, boost your CV for your chosen career or enhance your UCAS application for higher education. Our Hired team can help find the ideal placement for you.

Our education T-level course requires you to complete a minimum of 750 hours on placement in a real working environment. Our employability tutors will visit you out on placement to ensure you gain the right practical skills.

Work alongside experts in your sector

A snapshot of some of the employers we have worked with:

  • Adderley Children's Centre
  • St Thomas Centre Nursery
  • Busy Bees Nurseries
  • Laugh 'n' Learn Day Nursery
  • Lime Tree Children's Centre

We are extremely proud to be delivering the T-level for Education and Early Years. The industry experience of our staff alongside our excellent facilities ensures a broad and rich delivery of content at the forefront of developing educators of the future.

Rebecca Taylor Head of Education

Career opportunities

The example roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.

Early years educator

Average Salary: £18,526

Teaching assistant

Average Salary: £23,000

Special educational needs (SEN) teaching assistant

Average Salary: £17,789

Family support worker

Average Salary: £21,000

Nanny

Average Salary: £32,500

Childminder

Variable

Aspiring to a higher level career? Complete this course and you could progress onto our Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons) degree.

Hired

We are here to support your career goals every step of the way. 

 

Find out more

Discover more about T-levels

Designed in direct collaboration with employers and businesses, T-levels are a great new route into skilled employment, further study or higher apprenticeships.

Find out more

Meet your tutors

Laura Main

Senior Lecturer

Meet Laura
Kirsten Smith

Lecturer

Meet Kirsten

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