Care and Early Years - Level 2 Technical Occupational Entry for the Early Years Practitioner

This course is now full at Castleford and Wakefield for September 2025 enrolment. Please see our wide range of alternative course options within this and other subject areas, which still have places available. For further information, contact course information on courseinfo@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk or call 01924 789111.

This course can either be studied at Wakefield College, Castleford College or Selby College.

This study programme is designed to give you the knowledge and skills needed to support the care and education of babies and young children in a day nursery or school.

The programme is aimed at learners who are thinking of working in childcare either in a nursery or a school or who are aiming to progress into higher education to complete an early years or primary education degree.

When studying at Level 2, you will be in college for part of the week and on placement in a nursery or primary school for one or two days each week.

The programme will help you to understand your own personal and social development, including how to behave professionally. It is very important that learners are able to manage their own behaviour and follow the college rules, as young children learn how to behave from the people around them, so we must be positive role models when working with children.

Successful completion of Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner, gives you a licence to practice in an early years setting as a nursery assistant.

This study programme will cover a range of the topics and units at each level, some of which are listed below:

Roles and Responsibilities of the Early Years practitioner

Safeguarding

Promoting play in the Early Years

Supporting the Needs of the Child in Preparation for School

Promote Positive Behaviour in Early Years Settings

You will be assessed to make sure you understand what you have been taught in a variety of different ways. This may include written reports, case studies, producing leaflets, answering questions or through presentation and practical tasks in the classroom. Independent learning away from the classroom will be important to ensure your knowledge development.

4 GCSEs at Grade 9-3, one will be either English or Maths.

On successful completion and with the required English and Maths grades you can progress through the levels.