Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
The course provides learners with opportunities for practical workplace experience and the underpinning knowledge of early learning and care, as well as fostering communication and interpersonal skills with adults and children.
This is Stage 1 of a 2 year professional programme leading to the Advanced Certificate at Level 6, and learners can progress to the ELC Level 6 award if they have achieved the ELC Level 5 award or if they have gone through an RPL (recognised prior learning) process. There is an embedded award, a Level 5 Certificate in Early Learning and Care 5M21473, which can be achieved if learners exit the programme after successful completion of the Stage 1 modules.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
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Stage 1 Modules
Professional Practice Placements in Early Learning and Care
Children’s Rights, Legislation and Regulation
Holistic Care of Children 0-6 years
Early Childhood Growth and Development
Curriculum, Play and Creative Studies
Understanding and Assisting Children with Additional Needs
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course leads to a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a possible progression route, click below:
| QQI Code |
| 5M21473 |
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
Professional practice placement:
Learners must complete 150 hours of professional practice placement in each year in a minimum of two settings:
- Working directly with children aged between 0- 2 years 8 months, and
- Working directly with children aged 2 years 8 months – 6 years.
Learners must be Garda vetted before going on professional practice placement. Learners must pass the professional practice placement elements in each year.
Here are some of the most popular career destinations you could progress to:
Primary School Teaching │ Speech and Language │ Early Childhood Lecturer │ Inspectorate roles │ Managerial and Leadership position within Early Years settings │ Government Agencies such as Tulsa │ Semi state bodies such as the ISPCC.