Overview

This Award has been specifically designed to equip students with theoretical knowledge, understanding and the applicable skills for a successful employment trajectory within the Early Childhood Educational Care (ECEC) sector. The overarching aim of the Award is to demonstrate student’s competence in applying learnt skills, knowledge and professional development relating to early years education and care.

The programme provides the required experiences to link theory to practice, developing skills and competencies as well as personal qualities and attitudes which are essential for an early year’s practitioner. During the course, students will be encouraged to engage in pedagogical critical and reflective discussions, whilst work-based learning experience will help students to acquire the required leadership skills needed to provide young children with the appropriate developmental opportunities. Knowledge: Students will be exposed to the theoretical and practical features of early years child development, early years learning and forms of best practice. Students will learn factual and theoretical knowledge on how to implement, maintain and sustain early years learning and development within a high-quality early years childcare provision. Skills: Students will master a range of developmental, cognitive and practical skills to provide solutions to day-to-day specific issues in early years settings. Competencies: Students will be able to exercise self-management within the context of early years provision. Studnets will be able to implement specific strategies, conducive to the needs of young children under their care. In doing so, they will be competent and fully aware of the importance of providing a responsive, caring, safe and nurturing environment, whereby the educational activities on offer for children will be age appropriate and designed to scaffold early years learning and development   Target Audience & Occupation    This Award is suitable for individuals (+16 years) who wish to work, or who work with infants/children aged from birth to 3 years old within the Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC) sector. On completion of the Award, successful students can apply for employment within the Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC) sector as an Early Years Practitioner/Childcarer with infants 0-3 years. Successful students can progress to Level 5 qualifications on completion of this course (suggested progression would be to MQF Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Early Years Leadership & Management).

Malta/EU Fee

€1,250

Fee per academic year for Non-EU/Non-EAA applicants: €7,000.

Flexi-payment terms available.

Benefits

Funding

Receive up to 70% refund with the Get Qualified Scheme.

Malta Further and Higher Education Authority

The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) was officially launched on the 8th of January 2021 and is legislated by the revised Education Act which came into force on the 1st of January 2021. Our tagline is ‘Quality Education for Confident Futures.’

Our mission statement is:

“to foster the development and achievement of excellence in further and higher education in Malta through research, effective licensing, accreditation, quality assurance, and recognition of qualifications established under the Malta Qualifications Framework.”

The MFHEA focuses on:

  • providing accreditation to further and higher educational institutions;
  • providing accreditation to programmes or courses of studies at further and higher education levels;
  • quality assurance of both educational institutions and programmes or courses;
  • recognition of obtained national or international qualifications as well as prospective qualifications;
  • validation of informal and non-formal learning;
  • research and policy recommendations on issues related to further and higher education.

The MFHEA is an independent, transparent, and international authority. We work to ensure the highest standards and to foster a competent community of empowered individuals, with the right skills to follow their dreams and make the future happen.

Accredited by

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Duration

12 Months

Starting

July, 2024

Delivery

Face to face/Blended

Language

Delivered in English

Credits

60 ECTS/ECVET

This MQF Level 4 includes

  • National Childcare Standards, Health & safety at Work (6 ECTS)
  • Safeguarding Children, Child Protection & Rights (6 ECTS)
  • Infant/Child Development & Learning (6 ECTS)
  • The Holistic Child & Importance of Play (6 ECTS)
  • Early Years Language, Literacy Numeracy Acquisition (6 ECTS)
  • Fostering Prosocial Positive Attachment Behaviour (4 ECTS)
  • Equality, Diversity & Inclusive Practice (4 ECTS)
  • Early Years Assessment & Observation (4 ECTS)
  • Effective Communication, Colleagues & Parent Partnership (4 ECTS)
  • Professional Reflective Practice (2 ECTS)
  • Registered Early Years Service, Responsibilities & Legal Requirements (2 ECTS)
  • Work Placement* (10 ECTS)

All modules are mandatory to quality for this MQF Level 4 Award. Students who fail to pass/complete all mandatory units will be given a Certificate of Achievement from Avanza Training Academy, detailing the specific modules achieved and the number of ECTS/ECVETs gained. *As part of the course, students are requested to complete a work-based learning placement within a registered 0-3 ECEC centre for a total of 250 hours. All placements are arranged by Avanza Training Academy to ensure all students are provided with mentoring support from the respective Centre Owner/Manager. 

As part of the enrolment process, all applicants will be assessed via Avanza’s interview board. All entries will be assessed on an individual basis.  Learners are required to be 16+ years of age, possess either;

  • Minimum of 5 SEC/O’Level subjects of which; 3 O’Level subjects must include, Mathematics, English (Language and/or Literature), Maltese, at grade 4 or better and any other 2 O’Level subject at grade 6 or better.

OR

  • Successful completion of a related MQF Level 3 Foundation/Certificate Qualification (for example, Health & Social Care/Art & Design/Sports or Performing Arts)

OR

  • Mature students (+23 years at the start of the academic year applied for), subject to proficiency and/or aptitude tests as directed by the Academy. Avanza Training Academy also reserves the right to hold a course application interview prior to acceptance. 

Each module will be assessed based on a mixture of formative and summative assessments methods; Formative; Individual/Group Presentations, Discussions, Classroom/Placement Observations. All formative assessment methods will occur during each module and Tutors will provide students with on-going feedback throughout the course. Summative; End of Module Exam (where applicable) Module Essay, End of Course Case Study and Placement Assessment. All summative assessment methods will occur at the end of each module and will evaluate the student learning.

Lecturers

Silvan Magro

Silvan Magro is a Play Therapist by profession and a member of Play Therapy International. He has been working in this field for the past twelve years. Silvan graduated in Youth and Community Studies and Health and Social Care Management.

Claire Gafà

Claire Gafà has a Bachelor’s in Social Studies and Communication studies from the University of Malta and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Sheffield University. Her research area focus centres on Bilingualism and Dyslexia. Claire spent a couple of years volunteering with children that need help with their early literacy skills.

Location

Avanza Training Academy

Head Office

Oftec Business Centre,
1-2, Notabile Road
Birkirkara, BKR1876
Malta.

Ready to get your career moving in the right direction?

Give our team of dedicated professionals a call on +356 2149 3483 or click the button below to take the first step.

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