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Student Handbook
Funding Support for Students
This course will provide learners with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to pursue a rewarding career, working with children. Highly qualified and experienced staff will create exciting yet challenging learning environments to fully support learners and help them to work to their full potential. On successful completion of the programme, learners will also achieve qualified practitioner status to enable them to work with the 0-8 age group.
Learners will experience a mix of classroom based learning and work placement. They will be guided through the relevant childcare theory and be given opportunities to develop core skills needed by employers such as good communication and teamwork. Learners will also complete 700 hours of work placement in four different childcare settings, enabling them to put the theory into practice and experience a range of childcare pathways that may be taken. A range of core and specialist subjects will be studied. Specialist subjects have been carefully selected to reflect the needs of employers.
Examples of modules of study include:
- Promoting Children's Development
- Safeguarding Children
- Children's Learning Activities and Play
- Supporting Children's Literacy
Four GCSEs at Grade C or above (or equivalent). Preference will be given to those that have GCSE English and Maths or equivalent. All learners are required to attend an interview prior to being offered a place on the programme. Learners must complete an Access NI check.
Learners will be assessed through a variety of methods including direct observation of practice on placement, written assignments, oral presentations, posters and leaflets, professional discussions and group activities.
With the qualified practitioner status, learners can progress straight into employment in a childcare setting such as a Pre-school, Nursery, Creche or Primary School. They can also progress to a higher level programme within South West College such as the Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies or the HND in Health and Social Care. Alternatively, learners can progress onto a degree programme in a local or national university.
P3392OF10A
Session Code
1 Year(s)
Duration
Further Education
Mode of Study
16
Hours per Week
34
Number of Weeks
Interview Required
26/27
Academic Year
01/09/2026
Start Date
Subject to Timetable
Day/s
Shirley-Anne.McAdam@swc.ac.uk
Coordinator(s)
Total Annual Fee N/A
Total Concessionary Fee N/A
Fees Payable Each Year
**Am I eligible for concessionary fees?
P3392DE10A
2 Year(s)
6
30
15/09/2026
15:30-21:30
Time
Carmel.McGeary@swc.ac.uk
Total Annual Fee £1,080.00
P3392OE10A
16/09/2026
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies from Stranmillis University College; validated by Queen’s University Belfast
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma for Children’s Care Learning and Development (Northern Ireland)
NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Childrens Care Learning and Development (Management) (NI)