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).