This two year course is equivalent to one A Level. It is a new OCR Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification (AAQ). The course can be studied alongside A levels and other AAQ qualifications, especially in areas such as Psychology and Health and Social Care.

The qualification has four mandatory units covering the following topics:

• Children’s development – Children’s developmental progress from birth up to eight years, including the theories, principles and factors relating to development, and the potential impact of a range of factors on a child’s progress through the developmental milestones.
• Keeping Children Safe – Health and safety and safeguarding responsibilities of an individual working in an early years setting; emergency best practices and when to address concerns about a child’s welfare.
• Play and Learning – The concept of play, the influence of theories and approaches to play, and the benefits of play and learning activities for children.
• Research and Reflective Practice – The influence of research findings on policy and provision for children and how this influences the behaviours and expectations of an individual working in an early years setting.