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Early Years and Education

This course is ideal for students who are interested in working with children and young people and want to gain a solid foundation for careers or further study in education, childcare, and related fields such as speech and language therapy or social work.

The V Level in Education is a new government qualification that combines applied, work-related learning with the knowledge and understanding today’s universities and employers demand — covering education from birth right through to adult learning, not just early years.

Entry Requirements
GCSE English and Maths at Grade 3 — our standard college entry requirement. This is separate from any subject-specific entry requirements the awarding body may set once its specification is published.
The Course
Students apply their knowledge and skills to real work-related tasks: planning learning sessions, communicating purposefully with parents and professionals, promoting inclusion, carrying out risk assessments, and using assessment data to support learners’ progress. This applied learning sits alongside core knowledge in safeguarding, pedagogy, reflective practice, and the use of technology in education.
Course Activities
Students will:
  • Plan well-structured learning sessions and set clear, measurable learning goals.
  • Learn how to communicate purposefully with parents, carers and other professionals.
  • Explore strategies to promote inclusion, access and participation for all learners.
  • Carry out risk assessments across two contrasting learning environments.
  • Evaluate assessment data to set and feed back individual learning goals.
  • Study key theories in child development, reflective practice, and inclusive education.
Career and Progression Activities
This qualification supports progression to:
  • University courses in Early Years, Primary Education, Childhood Studies, or related fields.
  • Apprenticeships as a Teaching Assistant, Early Years Educator, or Education Technician.
  • Employment across a wide range of education and early years settings.
Course Structure and Assessment
This two-year qualification is equivalent to one A Level (360 guided learning hours). Assessment is confirmed by Ofqual to be mostly coursework-based rather than exam-heavy: 60% non-exam assessment (practical and skills-based tasks completed across the two years) and 40% exam (one assessment series each May/June). A formal work placement is not currently expected to be required.

Full unit content, entry requirements and grading will be confirmed once the awarding body publishes its specification, expected late 2026. This page will be updated as soon as that information is available.
Additional Information
  • Qualification: V Level in Education
  • Duration: 2 years (Equivalent to 1 A Level)
  • First Teaching: September 2027
  • First External Assessment: 2029

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