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Childhood Practice & SVQ Provision

SVQ 2 Social Services Children and Young People

Campus Sighthill Campus

Qualification SCQF Level 6

Study mode Evening

Start date Aug 2026

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Course overview

The SVQ 2 Social Services Children and Young People is a qualification that the SSSC accepts for registration as a support worker.

It is designed as an introductory qualification that will confirm your skills and knowledge at this level. The course will cover key topics relevant to working with children or young people in a daycare setting.

It's a great way to qualify while working. It links knowledge to daily work practice, making it relevant and valuable to your current job role.

The fee for this course is £957.

Contact katie.kent2@edinburghcollege.ac.uk for more information.

What you will learn

The award consists of 6 units: 4 mandatory and 2 optional.

Mandatory units

  • Support effective communication
  • Support the safeguarding of children
  • Develop your knowledge and practice
  • Support the health and safety of yourself and others

Optional units include-

  • Support the development of children and young people
  • Support a child with additional support needs
  • Contribute to the effectiveness of teams
  • Work with children and young people to create play spaces

Placement information

  • Applicants are required to be working in a setting for children and/or young people.
  • This can be a school, a nursery, an after-school club, or a holiday provision.
  • Please give details of this in your personal statement.

How the course is assessed

  • Students are assigned an assessor who works with them to plan opportunities to gather evidence that demonstrates they meet the qualification criteria.
  • This is achieved through workplace observations, writing reflective accounts of workplace situations, and participating in question-and-answer sessions and discussions.

Number of days per week

  • There is an online evening class held one evening per month, as well as regular online and in-person support meetings with an assessor.

Entry requirements

  • A good level of written and spoken English.
  • A commitment to study.
  • Evidence of study on a previous course, e.g., Get into Childcare, Skills for Work, preferred but not essential.
  • Basic IT skills to use the e-portfolio, email and MS Teams.
  • Applicants must be employed in a setting working with children and/or young people.

Please include full details of how you meet these entry requirements in your Personal Statement. Include the following - 

  • Where do you currently work? (e.g. name of nursery, school, out-of-school care, childminder, ASN setting)
  • What is your job title or role?
  • Why do you feel this SVQ level is right for you at this stage?

English Proficiency Requirements

To provide our students with the best opportunity to succeed in this course, applicants for whom English is an additional language require an English language certificate at IELTS Level 5 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 5 or equivalent is a course requirement.  If you would like any more information on this, please contact katie.kent2@edinburghcollege.ac.uk. 

Progression and Articulation Routes

  • SVQ 3 Social Services Children and Young People
  • HNC Childhood Practice
  • SVQ 3 Playwork

Career options

Support worker in a setting providing care for children and/or young people.

This can include - 

  • nurseries
  • after-school clubs
  • working in schools as a pupil support assistant or additional support needs auxiliary
  • holiday clubs

Study Options

Campus Study mode Start date
Sighthill Campus Evening 31/08/26

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