Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development
Level 2
Level
2 Apprenticeship
Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development
This qualification covers the fundamental knowledge and understanding of the new All Wales Induction Framework for Early Years and reflects a range of different role and ages. The content includes; core principles and values, effective professional practice, child development, health, safety and hygiene and positive relationships
Contents
Apprenticeship Framework
Level 2 Apprenticeship in CCPLD
Essential Skills Qualifications
Welsh Language Development
Apprenticeship Framework
The aim of the of the Level 2 Apprenticeship in CCPLD is to prepare individuals to work within an Early Years environment. At this level, practitioners are supported to provide a number of stimulating activities and opportunities for children, promoting Play, learning and development.
The programme prepares learners for roles such as:
• Nursery Assistant
• Playgroup Assistant
• Children’s support worker
Who is this apprenticeship for?
Those who work within regulated childcare settings with families and children under the age of 8/NHS children's services for those working with families and children 0-19. This includes child health settings.
This qualification is suitable for learners who have achieved a Level 1 qualification or who have no previous knowledge of the children's care, play, learning and development sectors.
Overview
On completion of this apprenticeship you will achieve the following:
• Apprenticeship Level 2 in CCPLD
• Level 1 Essential Skills in Communication and Application of Number*
• Prentis-iaith Welsh Language Development
On the following pages, you will find information relating to the main qualification (Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development), as well as other aspects that will make up this apprenticeship programme, including Essential Skills and Welsh Language Development.
* If you already hold qualifications, these may be used as ‘proxy’ towards your apprenticeship framework
Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development
This is the qualification you will be completing alongside your employment within an Early Years environment.
Length of time to complete
We will tailor your learning programmes to suit your needs, so that each learner’s experience is unique. While learner’s needs will be different, the recommended time to complete this programme is 16 months.
Course Delivery
This programme will be delivered through a mixture of mandatory workshops, 1 to 1 session with a member of the ACT delivery team, using a mixture of face-to-face and remote learning sessions. An ACT assessor will meet with the learner, either in the workplace or through digital means (for example, Microsoft Teams) once a month for approximately two hours to support progress. A Digital Portfolio (OneFile) is used to record all evidence.
Learners will also be observed within the workplace – demonstrating practical skills.
Learners will also be set tasks to complete between each visit, for approximately 4 hours per month (please note – this is just a guide and will vary based on learner needs).
Examples of some of the tasks that might be set by our assessors include:
• Explain the different areas of child development.
• Explain Health and Safety factors you need to consider when working with children 0-19.
In addition, there are a series of face-to-face or online mandatory workshops that provide practical and applicable support to work-based activities. These workshops are available for all learners to book onto – see below for more details.
The use of Office 365 and related tools will be essential to the course With participants being set tasks which will allow them to practice and demonstrate their learnt skills in the workplace. All of these workshops can be made bespoke for your business needs, at your workplace or ACT’s Head Office, or remotely.
What you will learn
The qualification is divided into two components: The Core qualification, which develops and assesses your knowledge and the Practice qualification, which focuses on and assesses your practical competencies
All evidence and learning resources will be stored and accessed through e-portfolio OneFile.
The core qualification will take the learner 7 months to complete and is delivered first –knowledge is gained towards the practice qualification.
Between months 7 and 16 the candidate will be required to take part in observations (supported by their employer) to confirm competency and develop the skills to enable them to put what they have learnt into practice. These sessions will take approximately 2 hours each month.
When the assessor and employer are confident that the candidate is ready for Assessment they will start the practice qualification – we envisage that this will be in approximately 16 months.
Between months 15 and 16 the learner will be required to complete 4 Assessments –the employer is required to be involved in this process and support with the planning and delivery.
At the end of the programme (month 16) the learner will carry out a Professional Discussion to confirm overall competency and knowledge gained throughout the qualification.
Completion of the CCPLD Core – within the first 7 months
• 5 mandatory workshops – these will be offered either face to face or remotely.
• 2-hour minimum monthly visits – the learner will be required time away from the children in an appropriate environment. If this is not possible, arrangements need to be made for the learner to come into centre. This is approximate and depends on the individual support required by the learner.
• 1 multi choice test – 1 hour 15 minutes. This will need to be in an appropriate environment, when this is not available the learner will need to come to the centre. Twilight sessions will be offered as well as during the day.
Time taken for delivery will depend on the needs of each individual learner, and the outcome of initial assessment. On the following page(s) is a realistic expectation of what we think will be required for most learners.
Delivery of Unit 002 – Health, Well-being, Learning and Development.
minutes 7 Multiple choice test Carry out resits (if needed)
3 – 9 Prepare for assessments Delivery of optional units Reflective practice/observations
9 – 15 Monthly visits are required – our assessor will support the completion of observations (minimum of 6) and assessments in a real-working environment
to 120 minutes 16 Professional discussion End of Course learner questionnaire
The core is at Level 2. Learners who hold this or a similar qualification, will need to demonstrate knowledge and understanding through the initial assessment process. Learner must be on programme for a min of 14 months.
Time taken for delivery will depend on the needs of each individual learner, and the outcome of initial assessment. On the following page(s) is a realistic expectation of what we think will be required for most learners.
3 – 6
Practice observations (ready for assessment) following the full assessment process against standard
7 Task A
Carry out day to day activities.
Complete reflective log, portfolio of evidence of workplace documentation
8-10 Task B
Plan for observation – involving Learner, Manager, Assessor to complete planning forms
10-14 Task C
Carry out observations – learner is observed by assessor.
15 Task D
Complete 4 activity reviews of the observation (reflection of each opportunity
16 Task E
Attend professional discussion
Have
any questions about our Level 2 Apprenticeship in Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development
We are here to help. If you have any further questions or enquiries about the main qualification element of the programme, please contact our Route Manager:
Helen Clarke Route Manager helenclarke@acttraining.org.uk
Essential Skills Qualifications
When you agree to undertake an apprenticeship, you may be required to complete Essential Skills as part of your apprenticeship framework.
What are Essential Skills?
The Essential Skills Wales (ESW) will be initially assessed via an online Wales Essential Skills Toolkit (WEST) Assessment. If a Learner already holds an ESW certificate or equivalent qualification this can provide a proxy and learners will not need to complete that ESW element of the programme. Where a Learner is not exempt an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) will be generated from the initial WEST assessment. The modules delivery will include independent learning via WEST, prior to guided learning sessions preparing the Learner for their assessment. ESWs are assessed via controlled tasks and confirmatory tests for Communication and Application of Number, Digital Literacy is assessed via a controlled task and structured discussion.
Proxy
If you already hold qualifications, these may be used as ‘proxy’ towards your apprenticeship framework. As a result, you will be exempt from achieving that particular Essential Skill, if you wish. This will be discussed with you before you sign up. Below are some examples, although this list is not exhaustive.
Welsh Language Development
As part of your Welsh Government funded framework, you will be supported to develop and maintain your Welsh language skills for the workplace.
What is Welsh Language Development?
ACT are committed to playing their part in the Welsh Government Million Speakers strategy. All learners will complete the Prentis-iaith Welsh Language Development course as part of your framework with us.
Don’t panic – this is as a means of development and is aimed to support you with the development of your Welsh Language skills. This course is specially designed to give apprentices a basic knowledge of Welsh for the workplace and consists of 6 interactive modules to complete online. The course will be completed throughout your framework, with support from your assessor.
Already bilingual?
If you are Welsh speaking you will undertake your learning bilingually. In practice this means that you can choose the elements of your learning that you would like to complete through the medium of Welsh. You will be able to discuss your particular preferences with your assessor.