Childcare - Early Learning & Care Combined - Levels 5 & 6

Our new Early Learning and Care Level 5 and Level 6 programmes are designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to care for and educate children from birth to six years old. This two-stage programme equips learners with the knowledge, skills, and competence to work autonomously under supervision, while promoting and supporting the holistic needs of children aged 0-6 years.

A minimum Ordinary Level Leaving Certificate standard of education or equivalent education or experience. An applicant whose first language is not English or who has not been educated wholly or mainly in the medium of English will be expected to reach, before commencing a programme, a suitable minimum level of competence in English in order to participate fully in the Programme. Learners are required to demonstrate an English proficiency level equivalent to International English Language Testing Score (IELTS 5.5) and/or other recognised equivalent international English language test. Learners will be required to submit evidence of their English proficiency. Work Placement Work Placement is an integral part of the programme and specifically required as part of the Professional Award Standards. For Level 5 programme, learner’s will be required to spend 150 hours, in two early learning and care settings, divided as follows: - Learner’s must spend a minimum of 50 hours working with children between the ages of 0 – 2.8 years - Learner’s must spend a minimum of 50 hours working with children between the ages of 2.8 – 6 years - Learners can spend the remaining 50 hours working with children across both age groups, however you must spend a minimum of 30 hours in the second service. Garda Vetting Garda Vetting is a legal requirement under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 for the vetting of persons carrying out work with children or vulnerable persons. Students must complete the Garda Vetting process before commencing work placement. Students who have spent more than 6 months living outside of Ireland will need to provide a copy of their Police Clearance Certification for all international addresses that they have lived at, before starting placement.