Early childhood care & education 5M2009 (optional year 2 QQI level 6 now available)

What Is Childcare?

This one-year course will aim to prepare participants for work with young children in the rapidly expanding world of childcare and crèche supervision/management. The childcare worker needs the social, communication and caring skills to work with individuals and groups. Childcare will lay a foundation for these skills and provide the work experience to put learning into practice. This course will serve as training for crèche/community care/healthcare industries or as a link  to childcare or early childhood education courses in many IT colleges throughout the country.This programme is ideal for both school leavers and experienced mature persons seeking a formal education. There  is now a QQI Level 6 Certificate available in Dunboyne College of Further Education which will run subject to availability and demand.

Course Content

A theoretical approach to childcare and special needs assisting will be complemented by practical experience. The following modules will be offered in 2019 subject to availability and demand:

•  Creative arts for early childhood

• Early Childhood Education & Play

• Child Development

• Work Experience

• Children with Additional Needs

• Child Health and Well Being

• Early Care & Education Practice

• Word Processing

• Communications

• Special Needs Assisting

Certification

QQI Level 5 in Early Childhood Care & Education 5M2009

Career opportunities

Graduates may pursue degree courses in Maynooth University, DCU, University of  jLimerick, UCC, as well as in IT Blanchardstown, IT Carlow and many other IT colleges around the country.  Students may also seek immediate employment in a range of childcare centres, classrooms or community initiatives. There are now a large range of certificates, ordinary and honours degree courses available to graduates on the newly expanded QQI links programme. For example Childcare graduates can access the 83 places in First Arts in Maynooth University, or progress to IT Blanchardstown, IT Tallaght, IT Carlow, Carlow College, DCU, DIT, Dun Laoghaire IADT, Letterkenny IT, St. Angela’s College Sligo, University of Limerick,  Marino College, Mary Immaculate, Tralee IT, UCC, in fact, all the IT colleges allow access onto their certificate and degree course in Early Childhood Studies/ Social Care.

•    Children with Additional Needs                 • Child Health and Well-being

•    Early Care & Education Practice                •  Word Processing

•    Communications                                         • Special Needs Assisting

Entry requirements

• Leaving Cert or LCA Mature Students of all backgrounds
• Other equivalent qualification
• All applicants will be interviewed regardless of previous qualifications