Childhood Practice HNC (Evening Class)

Course overview

This course is for people interested in a career in the early education, childcare or playwork sectors or for those wishing to pursue further study, for example, within Childhood Practice or Primary Education. The Scottish Social Services Council accepts this qualification for registration as a practitioner in the childcare service.

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

This course will give you a deep understanding of how to work with children and young people. It will help you integrate knowledge and theory into practice, including understanding the importance of the Health and Social Care Standards and the Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice.

From this course, you can apply for registration as a practitioner with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and go into employment within childhood practice settings such as nurseries, playgroups, after-school clubs and as a practitioner in a Primary School.

The course runs over 2 years, and fees will be payable at the start of each year. The course fee is £892 each year. It's possible to use the SAAS Part-time fee grant towards your payment if you meet the eligibility criteria. Part-time Funding Guide - SAAS

Classes are one evening per week, and students not currently working in a childhood practice setting will be required to do one session per week on placement throughout the 2-year course. In addition, you should expect to spend around 4 hours per week on reading, research and assessments for the course.

• Midlothian campus/online, Tuesday evenings 6 PM to 8.30 PM: This option is offered on a blended delivery model: 3 weeks online and 1 week on campus. 
• Fully online- this course is delivered entirely online with a taught class on Thursday evenings from 6 PM to 8.30 PM.

What you will learn

During the course, students will learn the values, skills, and knowledge needed 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 childhood practice 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.
• Learning how to ensure inclusion in everyday work practice.
• Critically evaluating practice and being a reflective practitioner.
• Developing a good working knowledge of current legislation, policy and guidance.

In year 1, you will cover:

• Pedagogy in Practice
• Additional Support Needs: Positive Support Strategies for Children and Young People
• Promote Effective Communication
• Promote Health, Safety and Security in the work setting
• Develop your Practice through Reflection and Learning

In year 2, you will cover:

• Health, Safeguarding, Welfare and Rights
• Developing Reflective Practice
• Outdoor Learning and Sustainability

Placement information

• This course has a mandatory work placement. There are specific units of study in this course which must be achieved in the workplace.
• Suppose you are employed in a suitable role in a childcare setting, working with any age group from birth up to early primary school age, and you have prior agreement from your employer confirmed to the college in writing. In that case, you can use your job as the placement for the course. 
• It is your responsibility to obtain your employer's agreement. If you are not employed, your placement will be arranged by Edinburgh College via our placement coordinator, who has an extensive network of employers committed to hosting placements to increase career opportunities and jobs 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 supports the consolidation of knowledge between college and practice. 
• You should think about how this will fit around any other commitments. Attendance is mandatory over the two years to complete the professional practice required to pass the course. 
• Between October and May in years 1 and 2, you need to commit to attending 26 placement sessions, each 5 hours long. You will need to provide times during the day (Monday – Friday) that you are available to attend placement; we are unable to arrange placements on weekends.
• For a placement arranged by Edinburgh College, a satisfactory Disclosure and Protection Scotland PVG clearance, arranged and paid for by the college, is compulsory before starting the placement. 

How the course is assessed

• You will be continually assessed through a combination of project work, essays, practical sessions and presentations. There are no closed-book exams in this course. 

Number of days per week

• Midlothian campus Tuesday evenings 6 PM to 8.30 PM: This option is offered following a blended model of delivery- generally 3 weeks online and 1 week on campus, although this may change.
• Fully Online Thursday evenings 6 PM to 8.30 PM.

Entry requirements

• A minimum of two Highers at C pass or above, one of which should be English  
• Or pass a relevant NC at SCQF Level 6 or SVQ Level 2 Children’s Care Learning and Development/Social Services Children and Young People.
• Or a pass in a different relevant subject at SCQF 6 (e.g., Social Sciences)  
• If you do not have the formal entry requirements, but you have significant experience working with children, you may also be considered if spaces remain: please detail this in your personal statement 
• Applicants should have some experience working in early learning or childcare settings in either a paid or voluntary role. 
• You should upload copies of your qualifications to demonstrate that you meet the entry requirements.

Writing a personal statement

Your personal statement is an essential part of your application, and it can help us to decide if you are suitable 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 relevant courses or training you have done, including 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?

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

English Proficiency Requirements

To give our students the best opportunity to succeed in this course, applicants for whom English is an additional language require an English language certificate at IELTS Level 6 or equivalent. Alternatively, applicants for additional language programs will be required to 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 a course requirement. If you would like any more information on this, contact Angie Thomson at angie.thomson@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.

Progression and Articulation Routes

• This course is intended to enable registration with the SSSC as a practitioner 
• PDA Childhood Practice Level 8
• BA Childhood Practice
• To progress to higher qualifications, experience in a childcare setting is essential, and for many courses, there will also be a requirement to be working in a supervisory role.

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 plenty of progression opportunities; each day can be different, full of variety and adventure.