T Level in Education and Early Years (Early Years or Assisting Teaching) - Level 3

Overview

IMPORTANT
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If you've always dreamed of working in education, and inspiring people to achieve their full potential, this T Level could be your next step towards your dream career.

The T Level in Education and Early Years (Early Years or Assisting Teaching) is a two year programme, equivalent to 3 A levels. In addition, it provides students with a license to practice within the Early Years sector or progress to university to study Early Years or Primary Teaching.

Throughout this T Level, you will learn through classroom-based activities, as well as taking part in trips, visits, industry talks and taster events. In addition, teaching provides opportunities to develop skills through a range of active and academic learning methods.

The early years educator specialism focuses on developing the skills that prepare you for professional practice and progression into employment within early years care and education or assisting teaching with young children.

This course can lead to the following career opportunities:

• Early years educator with full license to practice
• Primary and early years education teachers and assistants
• Teaching assistant in a primary school, secondary school or college
• Child social worker
• Special needs education teachers and assistants
• Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)
• Child and early years officers
• Educational support assistants and mentors
• Play therapists
• Children's health and wellbeing leads
• Learning mentors.

When you start the course, we will assign you a progress tutor who will support you throughout your time at college. Their role is to help you in setting academic and personal targets, creating a career plan, developing employability skills and monitoring your progress to make sure you realise your full potential.

What are T Levels?

If you're academically minded but have a skilled career route in mind, a T Level will give you a head start into your chosen industry.

T Levels are two-year qualifications that have been designed in partnership with businesses and industry-leading employers so you can develop the skills and knowledge required to kick-start your career straight from college.

• 80/20 Learning - 80% college-based, 20% on a relevant work placement
• Employer endorsed - designed with employers to provide the skills that industry needs
• 1 T Level = 3 A Levels - T Levels are nationally-recognised qualifications, equivalent to 3 A Levels.

As an alternative next-step after GCSEs, a T Level also includes a mandatory 45-day (315 hours) work placement with a reputable employer within your chosen industry.

The qualification splits into core content and specialist content:

• Core content - develop your general understanding of the industry
• Specialist content - covers different topics depending on the pathway you choose.

You can find out more about T Levels by visiting our dedicated T Level information page.

FREE travel with the West Notts College Travel Scheme.

To enable you to attend your work placement, we’re pleased to offer all T Level students our West Notts Travel Scheme for free! It's one app for unlimited bus travel across much of Nottinghamshire and parts of Derbyshire. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Find out more

*Free for new and returning students for academic year 2025/2026. This is subject to change for academic year 2026/2027.

What will I study?

Year 1 - Core units

• Wider context
• Supporting education
• Safeguarding, health and safety and wellbeing
• Behaviour
• Parents, families and carers
• Working with others
• Child development
• Observation and assessment
• Reflective practice
• Equality and diversity
• Special educational needs and disability
• English as an additional language.

Year 2 occupational specialisms

Early Years Educator

• Support and promote children's play, development and early education
• Develop relationships with children to facilitate their development
• Plan, provide and review care, play and educational opportunities to enable children to progress
• Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children
• Work in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children's development.

Or

Assisting Teaching

• Support the class teacher to enhance children's education, individually and in groups
• Plan, provide and review educational opportunities in collaboration with teachers and other adults
• Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children and young people
• Recognise, adapt and respond to individual children's needs, including those with SEND, to support development and access to the curriculum.

Industry placement

Across the two years, you will need to complete an exciting 750 hours industry placement with a reputable employer. Our designated early years work placement assessors will source your work placement for you, following your college induction.

This is a great opportunity that will not only give you experience within the early years workforce, but will give you the chance to go on to higher education or employment once you've completed your T Level.