Childhood Practice HNC Childhood Practice (Practitioner Focus)

Course overview

The HNC Childhood Practice (Practitioner Focus) is for applicants interested in a career in the early education, childcare or playwork sectors or those wishing to pursue further study within Childhood Practice or Childhood Studies. The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) accepts this qualification for registration as a practitioner in the social services sector.

This is a nationally recognised qualification and valued award for individuals who wish to work in various settings, supporting children and young people with diverse needs.

The course will deepen understanding of working with children and young people. It helps you to integrate knowledge and theory into practice, including the importance of the Health and Social Care Standards and Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice.

This course will teach the importance of play in children's development; leadership skills; a thorough understanding of child development theories; strategies to support children with additional needs; how to understand and support children's behaviour; contemporary family issues; collaborative working; and the importance of health, wellbeing, and safeguarding.

Take your next step towards changing your life and the lives of children.

If you would like to apply for this course, please consider the PVG scheme (completed by Edinburgh College once your place on the course is confirmed). This scheme helps protect children and adults within our sector; we require a clear PVG to enable you to proceed with an application for this course.  If you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss further. 

If you have any questions about this course, please get in touch with angie.thomson@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

What you will learn

During the course, you will learn the values, skills, and knowledge necessary to support children and young people. This will include:

• Developing an understanding of the values and principles that underpin work in childhood practice settings.
• Understanding how the Health and Social Care Standards and SSSC Codes of Practice inform working practices in the childcare sector.
• Developing an understanding of the variety of childhood practice settings in the sector.
• Developing skills appropriate for working with and supporting a wide range of individuals in childhood practice settings.
• Have an individual and child-centred focus in your practice.
• Learning how to ensure inclusion in everyday work practice.
• Critically evaluate your practice and be a reflective practitioner.
• Developing a good working knowledge of current legislation, policy and guidance.
• We promote active learning, and you will participate in activities both in and out of the classroom.

To help prepare you for your course and share additional information, we have created an HNC online noticeboard. This will be regularly updated until the course starts in August.

Throughout the course, there will be some self-study elements.

Before starting your placement in October, you’ll spend part of your week working independently on tasks online.

Ask yourself:

• Is this something I feel confident and comfortable doing?
• Am I self-motivated and ready to take responsibility for my learning?
• Do I have access to a suitable study space, a digital learning device, and the internet? (this could be on-campus)
• Am I willing to join online sessions, with my camera on and engaging in the session?

Placement information

• You will gain valuable experience through a placement in a childhood practice setting, working with children of all ages from birth to early primary school.
• Edinburgh College will arrange your placement through our placement coordinator, who has an extensive network of employers committed to hosting placements to increase career opportunities and job prospects by developing skills and knowledge within the Childhood Practice sector.
• Your placement could be in a nursery, early years centre, school, playgroup, after-school club, or an additional support needs setting.
• Placement is rewarding and gives invaluable experience to support the knowledge gained in college.
• Attendance is mandatory to complete the professional practice required to pass the cours, between October 2025 and May 2026. The first block consists of four days to familiarise yourself with your setting, followed by two days per week, and three further blocks of four days in December, January, and March.
• A satisfactory Disclosure and Protection Scotland PVG clearance, arranged and paid for by Edinburgh College, is compulsory before starting placement.
• Our placements are arranged within Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian.  If you are outwith these areas we will discuss placement arrangements with you. 

How the course is assessed

• You will be continually assessed through project work, essays, placement reflections and presentations.

Number of days per week

Full-time options: 

• Granton campus or Sighthill campus, two days per week (Monday and Tuesday)
• You will also do two days per week on a work placement (Wednesday and Thursday)
• Friday is a study day, with no requirement to attend college. 

Entry requirements

• A minimum of two Highers at grade C or above, one of which should be English.
• Or pass in a relevant NC at SCQF Level 6 (including Communication or Academic Study Skills units at SCQF 6) or PDA Education Support Assistant or SVQ Level 2 Children’s Care Learning and Development/Social Services Children and Young People. 
• Or a pass in the Foundation Apprenticeship  Social Services: Children and Young People, plus Higher English.
• Applicants should have experience working in early learning or childcare settings, either in a paid or voluntary role.
• Membership in the PVG scheme, administered by Disclosure and Protection Scotland, is required for this course.
• You should upload copies of your qualifications to demonstrate that you meet the entry requirements.

Writing a personal statement

Your personal statement is an integral part of your application and helps us determine whether you are a suitable candidate for the course.

To make sure that you are giving us all the information we need to consider your application thoroughly, please include the following:

• Your reasons for applying for this course. Why does it interest you? Why are you suitable for this course?
• Details of any relevant qualifications that you have to meet the course entry requirements
• Information about any courses or training you have done that are relevant – this can include certificated training such as First Aid or CPD courses.
• Details of any work experience (paid or voluntary) that is relevant to the course
• Your future career plans – how will this course help you to reach your goals?

Ensure the statement is written clearly and uses appropriate language. It’s a good idea to ask someone to proofread the statement before sending it.

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

• As part of the recruitment process, we will have a short individual meeting. 
• During this time, we’ll discuss the course content, your motivation and enthusiasm for working with children, your experience, and any support you might need. It’s also the perfect time to ask questions and make sure you feel confident and excited about committing to the course. 
• When applying for the course, it’s important to reflect on whether you are ready to study and work in a Childcare Practice setting.

Ask yourself: 

• Can I thrive in a busy, active, and sometimes noisy environment? 
• Am I flexible and able to adapt to changing needs and circumstances? 
• Do I have strong communication skills to work effectively with both adults and children? 
• Can I use my initiative to solve problems and respond appropriately? 
• Am I able to commit 6 hours per week (adjust per course) in addition to attending all college classes and placement, to complete assessments and classwork? 
• Taking time to consider these questions will help you feel confident that this course is the right fit for you

English Proficiency Requirements

To provide our students with the best opportunity to succeed in this course, applicants for whom English is an additional language must hold an existing English language certificate at IELTS Level 6 or equivalent. Alternatively, additional language applicants must undertake an English Language Assessment at the College. There will be a cost of £20 for this test unless you are in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Disability Benefit or Income Support or if you are an asylum seeker or refugee.  English proficiency at IELTS Level 6 or equivalent is required for the course.  If you would like any more information on this, please get in touch with angie.thomson@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

Progression and Articulation Routes

• This course is intended to enable you to register with the SSSC as a practitioner. 
• Successful completion could enable progression to PDA Level 8 Childhood Practice or BA Childhood Practice.
• Successful completion could enable progression to  BA (Hons) Education Studies (Primary). Please check the additional entry requirements.
• To progress to these qualifications, experience working in a childcare setting is essential, and there will also be a requirement to be working in a leadership role in a childcare setting or on placement.
• Successful students who have also achieved National 5 Biology and level 5 numeracy (or equivalent) are eligible to apply for the 3-year pre-registration Nursing programme (BN) at Edinburgh Napier University.
• BA (Hons) Child and Youth Studies, year 2 entry at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
• BA (Hons) Childhood Practice, year 2 entry at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Career options

• From this course, you can apply for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as a practitioner and go into employment within nurseries, playgroups, after-school clubs and other play schemes.
• Working in childhood practice offers numerous opportunities for growth; each day can be different, full of variety and adventure.
• SDS publish a report predicting demand for jobs and employability needs: Sectoral Skills Assessment Childcare 2025