NVQ / DiplomaRegulated qualificationFrom£100.00/mo

Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator

The Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator is an Ofqual-regulated, NCFE CACHE qualification that trains you to work with children from birth to 5 years. It combines online study with a minimum of 300 hours of supervised work placement, leading directly to Early Years Educator status.

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  • 12 to 18 monthsDuration
  • 100% Online with supervised work placementStudy Method
  • Up to 64 UCAS ptsPoints Available
  • Start anytimeStart Date
Accredited qualificationUK awarding body
Start anytimeNo fixed term dates
Tutor supportExpert tutors, 7 days
14-day money backRefund if not loved
Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator at a glance
Qualification levelRQF Level 3
Qualification number610/4164/6
Awarding bodyan Ofqual-regulated UK awarding organisation
Total credits95 credits
UCAS pointsUp to 64 UCAS points
Typical study time12 to 18 months
Study method100% Online with supervised work placement
Start dateStart anytime
Pay monthly£100.00 per month
Pay annually£1,199.00

This course is for you if…

  • Want to work directly with babies and young children in a nursery or early years setting
  • Are currently working, volunteering, or can arrange a placement in a childcare setting
  • Are aged 16 or over and ready to commit to a mix of study and practical experience
  • Want a nationally recognised qualification that meets government staff:child ratio requirements
  • Enjoy hands-on, practical learning alongside academic study
  • Are considering a long-term career in early years education or care

Your career after this course

  • Cannot access or arrange a work placement of at least 300 hours in an early years setting
  • Are looking for a purely academic, classroom-only qualification with no practical component
  • Want to work exclusively with children aged 5 and over
  • Need to qualify in under 3 months, as the placement hours require sustained time
  • Are not yet 16 years old, the minimum entry age for this qualification
  • Want a qualification with a university degree pathway rather than direct employment
About this qualification

What you'll learn

Every early years setting in England needs qualified staff who understand how young children learn, develop and thrive. The Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator is the qualification that gives you that recognised status, combining classroom learning with real experience in a nursery, pre-school or reception class.

This Level 3 qualification is awarded by NCFE, one of the largest awarding organisations in the UK, and quality-assured by Ofqual. It is built around 10 mandatory units covering child development, safeguarding, SEND, communication and curriculum planning, studied over 864 guided learning hours including a minimum of 300 hours of supervised work placement.

Regulated qualificationRQF Level 3UCAS Up to 64100% Online with supervised work placement12 to 18 months100% online
What you'll need

Entry requirements

You need to be at least 16 years old to enrol on this qualification.

You will need access to a work placement of at least 300 hours in an early years or childcare setting, either through existing employment, volunteering, or a placement we can help you arrange.

There is no minimum study commitment, though most learners spend around 10 hours a week on coursework alongside their placement hours.

Not sure if you qualify?

Our admissions team can talk you through your options.

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Assessment

How you're assessed

The qualification is assessed through written assignments, case studies and observed practice in your placement setting. There are no written exams.

You will build a portfolio of evidence across all 10 mandatory units, including direct observations of your practice with children, which your tutor and workplace supervisor sign off together.

01

Portfolio-based

Coursework and a written portfolio. No traditional written exams.

02

Submit online

All assignments submitted through your learner dashboard.

03

Tutor feedback

Detailed feedback in 3 to 5 working days. Refine and resubmit until you reach the grade you want.

04

Graded across units

Pass, Merit or Distinction on each unit. Top grades stack to the highest UCAS point total.

Careers

Where this can take you

Typical roles and salary ranges this qualification opens up.

Nursery Practitioner

Typical salary range

£16,000 to £24,000

Work directly with babies and young children in a day nursery, delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.

Nursery Manager

Typical salary range

£23,000 to £35,000

Lead a nursery team, manage staffing and ratios, and oversee Ofsted compliance and safeguarding.

Early Years Teacher

Typical salary range

£27,000 to £42,000

Progress to Early Years Teacher status with further training, leading learning for children from birth to 5.

Childminder

Typical salary range

Variable, self-employed

Register with Ofsted to provide childcare from your own home, setting your own rates and hours.

Teaching Assistant (progression route)

Typical salary range

£14,000 to £21,000

Move into a primary school setting supporting reception and early years foundation stage classes.

Pricing

Choose your payment plan

Same course, your choice of how to pay.

Pay Monthly

Recurring monthly subscription. Cancel anytime.

£100.00/month

Billed monthly

  • Full access to all course materials
  • Dedicated subject tutor
  • Live and recorded webinars
  • Certificate on completion
  • Pay by card, PayPal, Klarna
  • Spread cost with 0% interest
Everything else

What else you should know

Study support and platform

  • You get a personal tutor from day one
  • Log in any time from a phone, tablet or laptop
  • Marking is done in 3 to 5 working days
  • Talk to our support team by phone, email or live chat
  • See your progress and next steps on your dashboard
  • Join the learner community forum when you want to chat to others

Funding and finance

  • Pay monthly to spread the cost with no interest
  • Pay in full and save versus monthly
  • No credit checks and no contract. Pause or cancel anytime
  • We can send funding paperwork to your employer if they sponsor you
  • Our enrolment team will talk you through every option
  • 14 day money back guarantee on every enrolment

Accreditation and recognition

  • Awarded by a recognised UK awarding body
  • Regulated by Ofqual, the same standard as college courses
  • Accepted by UK universities, employers and professional bodies
  • You get a certificate when you finish
  • Listed on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications
  • Independently quality checked through IQA and EQA

How it works

  • Start any time. There are no set term dates or cohorts
  • Study at your own pace around work and family
  • No exams. You complete coursework, a portfolio and assignments
  • Resubmit your work at no extra cost to reach the grade you want
  • Use the optional study planner if you like a bit of structure
  • How long you study is entirely up to you. Most learners spend a few hours each week, but you can do more or less based on your own pace
What learners say

Trusted by thousands of learners

Real feedback from learners studying with Lift College.

The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.
Sarah M. · Manchester
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I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.
James P. · Birmingham
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Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.
Aisha K. · London
Access to HE Diploma (Nursing)
Good value and well structured. I appreciated that I could resubmit work without extra cost, really helped me improve.
David R. · Leeds
CMI Level 5
Customer service was excellent. Any time I had a question it was answered within hours. Highly recommend.
Emma L. · Glasgow
GCSE English
I needed a qualification that actually meant something to employers. Ofqual regulation was the deciding factor, and it delivered.
Tom W. · Bristol
CMI Level 7
Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
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