Childhood Practice & SVQ Provision
HND Childhood Practice
Campus Sighthill Campus
Qualification SCQF Level 8
Study mode Full time
Duration 41 weeks
Start date
Aug 2023
Course enquiry form
Course overview
HND Childhood Practice is for people interested in studying at college on a full-time basis. The course is a progression from the HNC Childhood Practice and on successful completion will lead to a total of 240 credits from both awards. The course is ideal for people working towards a career as a manager/lead practitioner/senior practitioner in the childhood practice sector.
This course will give you a deep understanding of professional practice in the early learning, childcare and play sector and how legislation, policy and frameworks should be used effectively to ensure children and young people are supported and valued. The course has a focus on leadership and developing the skills to be a successful leader.
Course content
The course covers the following topics:
- Professional practice
- Legislation and policy
- Pedagogy
- Developing leadership
- Quality assurance
- Collaborative working
- Independent research into a topic
What you will learn
During the course, you will build on your existing knowledge and skills to:
- Develop your understanding of current frameworks and policy and the ability to analyse how they work in practice.
- Research and investigate contemporary theories of leadership and teamwork.
- Explore pedagogical approaches to supporting children and young people in their learning, development and play.
- Identify factors that influence the application and development of your professional practice.
- Evaluate the application of regulatory codes and standards for Childhood Practice.
- Evaluate accountability and responsibility for continuing professional development within the regulatory framework.
- Conduct research to complete a graded unit on a contemporary topic.
To help prepare you for your course and share further information we have created an online notice board. This will be regularly updated until the course starts in August.
HND Childhood Practice (padlet.com)
Placement information
- You will have 2 days per week in a relevant work placement
- The college placement coordinators will arrange a suitable placement
- A satisfactory PVG check is required before placement starts, the college will arrange this
How the course is assessed
- You will be continually assessed through project work, essays, reflective accounts, research tasks and presentations.
Number of days per week
Full-time:
- Sighthill campus – two days per week (Monday and Tuesday).
- You will also do two days per week on a work placement (Wednesday and Thursday).
Entry requirements
HNC Childhood Practice – with a Graded Unit grade of A or B. Please note that if you completed the HNC at Edinburgh College in 2022 or before, you will need to complete some additional credits before enrolling on the HND course. Contact angie.thomson@edinburghcollege.ac.uk for advice.
Higher English at C grade or above, or equivalent.
Writing a personal statement
Your personal statement is an important 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 fully, 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?
You should check that the statement is written clearly, and using appropriate language. It’s a good idea to ask someone to proofread the statement before sending it.
English Proficiency Requirements
IELTS 6.0Progression and Articulation Routes
Possible progression to:
- PDA Level 9 Childhood Practice,
- BA Childhood Practice.
- BA (Hons) Education Studies (Primary)
Career options
- Practitioner,
- Lead Practitioner,
- Early Years Officer
- Manager within some settings while working towards PDA Level 9 or degree qualifications.
Study Options
| Campus | Study mode | Start date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sighthill Campus | Full time | 28/08/23 | 41 Weeks |
