Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator

The Cache Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator is one of the leading qualifications for early years apprentices and provides the knowledge and skills that they require to work effectively in this type of setting. Similar qualifications are provided by other awarding bodies, which may differ slightly in content and delivery but the core prnciples remain the same across them all.

This qualification has the following 27 mandatory units.

They are split into four themes.

NOTE: Units 1.1 to 1.6 are related to health and wellbeing. Units 2.1 to 2.5 explore legislation, frameworks and professional practice. Units 3.1 to 3.15 cover play, development and learning for school readiness. And unit 4.1 looks at professional development.

• Unit 1.1: Support healthy lifestyles for children through the provision of food and nutrition
• Unit 1.2: Support healthy lifestyles for children through exercise
• Unit 1.3: Support physical care routines for children
• Unit 1.4: Promote children’s emotional well-being
• Unit 1.5: Understand how to support children who are unwell
• Unit 1.6: Understand the needs of the mother and baby during pre-conception, pregnancy and the first year of life
• Unit 2.1: An introduction to the role of the Early Years practitioner
• Unit 2.2: Understand legislation relating to the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children
• Unit 2.3: Use legislation relating to the health and safety of children
• Unit 2.4: Use legislation relating to equality, diversity and inclusive practice
• Unit 2.5: Work in partnership
• Unit 3.1: Understand the value of play in Early Years
• Unit 3.2: Plan, lead and review play opportunities which support children’s learning and development in relation to current frameworks
• Unit 3.3: Apply theoretical perspectives and philosophical approaches to play
• Unit 3.4: Contribute to enabling play environments
• Unit 3.5: Develop emergent literacy skills of children
• Unit 3.6: Develop emergent mathematical skills of children
• Unit 3.7: Understand the needs of the child in preparing for school
• Unit 3.8: Understand how to plan to meet the needs of the developing child
• Unit 3.9: Facilitate the cognitive development of children
• Unit 3.10: Develop the speech, language and communication of children
• Unit 3.11: Promote the physical development of children
• Unit 3.12: Promote the personal, social and emotional development of children
• Unit 3.13: Support children with additional needs
• Unit 3.14: Use observation, assessment and planning to promote the development of children
• Unit 3.15: Use longitudinal studies to observe, assess and plan for children’s needs
• Unit 4.1: Engage in professional development