Get Your Level 2 Childcare Qualification with Parenta
Boost your early years development knowledge to give back more to children as you build the foundations for a successful childcare career!
If you’re currently working under supervision in a paid role - such as an early years worker/assistant or practitioner within an early years childcare setting - and you want to build a foundation of knowledge on the development of babies and young children from birth to 7 years old, then Level 2 childcare course is ideal for you!
*Limited Government Funding Available. Submit the form while funding lasts!
Build The Foundations For A Successful Childcare Career
The knowledge gained from work-based apprenticeships is INVALUABLE and will support you throughout your career. But you might be asking yourself, why should I choose Parenta for my level 2 childcare course?
Doing an apprenticeship with Parenta means you get so much more! You get…
- Your own skills coach to support you every step of the way.
- FREE access to Maths and English teachers to support you (if required).
- FREE resources to support you in your role!
- FREE monthly webinars
- FREE 40-page monthly magazine
- £100 referral incentive for every successful referral to Parenta
Parenta Learner Testimonials: Level 2 Childcare
About The Level 2 Childcare Course
- How Do I Achieve The Qualification?
- How Will I Be Assessed?
- Will I Need To Attend Class?
- How Long Will The Course Take Me To Complete?
This course will include personal learning and thinking skills, employment rights and responsibilities as well as Functional Skills in English and maths (if required*).
*Opting out of functional skills is an option if you are aged 19 or over. However, it could limit your role in an early years setting, as you may not count towards staff-to-child ratios without a recognised Level 2 English qualification. This may also impact your career progression as many employers and industry bodies require these core skills. Managers appointed on or after 4 January 2024 must hold a Level 2 Maths qualification or achieve one within two years of starting their position. Additionally, your setting may face staffing challenges, and your employer is responsible for ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.
You’ll be assessed through a mixture of ‘at home’ and ‘at work’ tasks.
Before this happens, your tutor will talk with you to find out what learning style suits you best and tailor your assessments around it.
Great news – there are no classes to attend at a college, but you will be required to attend theory based masterclasses that we provide.
You will have regular contact with your Parenta tutor either remotely or face to face to observe you at work and check you’re fulfilling the course requirements.
Your tutor will set you course work to complete on OneFile our e-learning platform and will agree submission timings with you.
It is important that you meet your submission deadlines to ensure you complete your qualification on time.
As with anything worthwhile, this course requires you to dedicate some of your time to it. This will be up to 15 months in total if you are working full-time – and longer if you are working part-time.
But remember, afterwards, you’ll have the fantastic feeling of becoming a professionally recognised early years practitioner and set yourself up for a rewarding career.
You will be assigned your own tutor to support you throughout your qualification. However, you may be required to do some independent learning.
The course is made up of 2 parts, as follows:
Main part of the course – 12 months if you are working full-time (longer if you are working part-time)
The units are based around your skills, knowledge and behaviours which you gain throughout your apprenticeship.
Part 2 is in two sections - duration 3 months:
Preparation for your End Point Assessment (this is called Gateway).
Upload any relevant certificates and evidence of portfolio work*
End Point Assessment will consist of a direct observation around your skills, knowledge and behaviours and a professional discussion, supported by your portfolio of evidence.
*Opting out of functional skills is an option if you are aged 19 or over. However, it could limit your role in an early years setting, as you may not count towards staff-to-child ratios without a recognised Level 2 English qualification. This may also impact your career progression as many employers and industry bodies require these core skills. Managers appointed on or after 4 January 2024 must hold a Level 2 Maths qualification or achieve one within two years of starting their position. Additionally, your setting may face staffing challenges, and your employer is responsible for ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.
Level 2 Childcare - More Information
What Does Ofsted Say About Parenta Training?
Learn from childcare experts and tutors "that have extensive and current vocational knowledge."
Parenta tutors help expand your knowledge and understanding by delivering "well-planned and carefully structured lessons."
We Believe In Early Years Education
We believe in accessible childcare for everyone, at every level, and we’re here to make it easier for you.
Whether it's helping you to find a position within a childcare setting, preparing for an interview and starting your training programme, or climbing that career ladder, taking on that room leader or management position, we’re here for you!
With our childcare training courses, you don’t have to go to college because all of our classes are virtual. You’ll also have the full support of a personal tutor whilst you train.
Level 2 Childcare Course: Handy Guides Written For You
Level 2 Childcare Frequently Asked Questions
You'll receive ongoing apprenticeship support and will be assigned your own skills coach and tutor for the full duration of your course, with free access to Maths and English teachers if required, free CPD training through free monthly webinars and access to handy guides and over 3,000 blogs written by sector experts, free monthly webinars, and Parenta's monthly early years magazine.
Once qualified in Level 2 childcare, you can progress straight into a Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship, which allows you to work unsupervised in a more senior position such as key worker or team leader, opening the door to higher pay and greater responsibility.
You will be assessed in a blend of 'at home' and 'at work' tasks tailored to your learning style, including case studies on babies and children, written assignments, reflections on real events, professional discussions with your tutor, and direct observations of your practice.
Yes, a Parenta level 2 qualified practitioner can be counted in staff ratios (supervised), provided you also have a valid paediatric first aid certificate if newly qualified, and your setting meets the overall required ratio balance of level 2 and level 3 staff.
Your End Point Assessment (EPA) follows the 12-month main course and Gateway preparation stage. It consists of a direct observation of your skills, knowledge and behaviours in your setting, plus a professional discussion with an assessor, both supported by the portfolio of evidence you've built throughout the apprenticeship.
Opting out of functional skills is only possible if you're 19 or over when you start. However, without a recognised Level 2 English qualification, you may not count towards staff-to-child ratios, which can limit your role and career progression, since many employers and industry bodies require these core skills.
If you haven't already achieved GCSEs in English and maths, it's strongly recommended you take Functional Skills as part of your apprenticeship, and this is fully funded. You can only opt out if you are aged 19 or over on your start date and opting out may limit your ability to count in staff ratios.
The Level 2 course is delivered across three themes: Health, Safety and Wellbeing (including safeguarding and legislation); Child Development (milestones, attachment, transitions, speech and language); and Positive Environments (implementing the EYFS, SEND, equality, diversity and inclusion, and reflective practice).
There are no college classes to attend for your Level 2 childcare apprenticeship. You'll learn through online theory masterclasses and regular remote or face-to-face visits from your dedicated Parenta tutor, who observes you at work and sets coursework via our OneFile e-learning platform.
No previous childcare qualification is required to start a Level 2 apprenticeship, as it is the entry point into the sector. If you have not already achieved GCSEs in English and maths, it is strongly recommended (and fully funded) that you complete Functional Skills alongside your main course.
The Level 2 childcare apprenticeship takes up to 15 months in total. This is made up of a 12-month main learning phase covering three themed modules, followed by a 3-month End Point Assessment (EPA) stage, which includes Gateway preparation and the final assessment itself.
The Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner is an entry-level childcare apprenticeship for people already working, under supervision, in a paid early years role. It teaches you to support the development of babies and children from birth to 7 years old and leads to a nationally recognised, Ofsted-accredited qualification.
An early years practitioner is someone who works directly with babies and young children, from birth to age 7, supporting their development under supervision in a nursery, preschool or similar setting. In England, the Level 2 is the recognised, Ofsted-accredited qualification for this role.
With a Childcare Level 2 qualification you will possess a solid foundation of knowledge on the development of babies and young children from birth to 7 years old!
Once you've completed your Level 2 childcare qualification, most learners progress onto our Level 3 Early Years Educator course.
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