To enable progression for learners who are unable to access a work placement due to the possible on-going impact of Covid-19, we have worked together with Ofqual, Department for Education (DfE), Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and UCAS to agree how learners could progress through a knowledge-only version of Early Years Educator or Early Years Practitioner qualifications listed in the table below.
|
QRN |
Current Early Years Educator/Practitioner qualification titles |
New 'knowledge only' QRN |
New 'knowledge only' qualification titles |
|
601/2147/6 |
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator) |
601/2147/6/KNO |
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Knowledge only pathway) |
|
601/8438/3 |
NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator) |
601/8438/3/KNO |
NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Knowledge only pathway) |
|
601/2629/2 |
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce ((Early Years Educator) |
601/2629/2/KNO |
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Knowledge only pathway) |
|
601/4000/8 |
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator) |
601/4000/8/KNO |
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Knowledge only pathway) |
|
601/8437/1 |
NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator) |
601/8437/1/KNO |
NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Knowledge only pathway) |
|
603/3723/0 |
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner |
603/3723/KNO |
NCFE CACHE |
The certificate of achievement displays the same Qualification Reference Number (QRN) and title of the original qualification undertaken, with ‘knowledge only pathway’ clearly identified. This is to distinguish between knowledge only achievement and an Early Years Educator/Early Years Practitioner competence to practice at Level 2 or 3. Learners who wish to embark on the DfE skills criteria at a later date will still have an opportunity to do so.
UCAS and ESFA confirmed that learners will continue to gain the respective allocated UCAS tariff points and centre’s can continue to draw down funding. The DfE has also confirmed that their full and relevant lists for Early Years Educator/Practitioner qualifications have been updated regarding the differentiation between knowledge only and competence to practice, adding clarity for employers.
Take a look at our FAQs document here.
We appreciate that centres are likely to have a mixture of individual requirements within the same cohort and with that in mind, we held a webinar to explore this and you can access this here. You can also contact your External Quality Assurer for more information.
