• Access Duration: 1 Year
• Awarded by: NCFE  CACHE
• Qualification Level: Level 3
• Qualification Number: 610/5193/7
• Guided Learning Hours (GLH): 40
• Total Qualification Time (TQT): 60
• UCAS points: 8 points

• Understand the safeguarding and welfare requirements which are set out in section 3 of the EYFS statutory framework.
• Identify the main developmental milestones for babies and young children up to the age of two years in an early years setting.
• Describe how experiences before conception, during pregnancy and after birth may affect a child’s development and how these may affect each child’s needs.
• Understand that an early years practitioner supports babies and children under the age of two.
• Think critically about caring for babies and kids less than two years old.
• Support babies and young children under two years old with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
• Improve the health and well-being of infants under two years of age with the advice given.

This NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award is for anyone who wants to know more about how to care for babies and young children under 2 years old. This is for those who work or volunteer with kids in the early years and want to feel more confident in helping kids in their early stages of development.

This course is ideal for:

• Early years practitioners
• Childminders
• Nursery assistants
• Room leaders
• Volunteers
• Returning learners
• CPD seekers

• You must be aged 16 or over.
• You must be employed as an early years practitioner or volunteering in an early years setting, working with babies and young children under 2 years of age.

• This course can be completed through two flexible study options to suit your lifestyle:
  • Standard Course Plan (3 months) – ideal for learners balancing other commitments.
  • Fast Track Option (1 months) – perfect for those who can dedicate intensive study time.

• Most learners complete within their chosen timeframe, though some may finish earlier depending on personal circumstances and available study time.We accommodate your pace with unlimited support for 12 months.This Level 3 Certificate requires approximately 40 guided learning hours.

T&C apply

Internal Assessment: This qualification is internally assessed by the South London College.

Portfolio of Evidence: You must develop a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates that you have achieved all the unit’s learning outcomes.

Workplace Assessment: Testing of competence-based learning outcomes is carried out in the workplace using techniques such as direct observation, professional discussion, reflective accounts, and expert witness testimony (EWT).

Grading: The qualification is graded Achieved or Not Yet Achieved.

The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Working with Babies and Young Children Under 2 Years focuses on caring for babies and young children under 2 years of age. The award gives early years educators a sound basis for continuing their professional development.

Next Steps for a Possible Academic Progression Pathway

• Step 1: NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator)
• Step 2: NCFE CACHE Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner
• Step 3: Foundation Degree in Early Years or Childcare.
• Step 4: Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood (Top-up)
• Step 5: Postgraduate qualifications in Early Years Education

Alternative Pathways 

• Level 3 qualifications in Childcare or Playwork.
• Specialised CPD courses in areas such as SEND, safeguarding, or child development.
• Leadership and management qualifications for early years settings.

The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Working with Babies and Young Children Under 2 Years can help increase your chances of getting a job in early years settings.

Here are some career opportunities you could pursue as you gain experience and complete this qualification, along with approximate UK salaries. (Source: Glassdoor UK)

• Childminder – £30000
• Room Leader – £28000
• Early Years Educator – £27000
• Early Years Practitioner – £26000
• Key Person for Babies and Young Children – £26000
• Nursery Nurse – £25000
• Nursery Assistant – £23000

This qualification is regulated by Ofqual, the UK government’s Office for Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. Ofqual regulation ensures that the qualification meets national standards for quality, consistency, and fairness. It means the course content, assessment methods, and learning outcomes are carefully monitored, giving learners confidence that the qualification is credible, well recognised, and supports progression to further study or employment in the UK.

RQF

In England and Northern Ireland, regulated qualifications are classified by level and size using the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). It helps learners, employers, and education providers understand and compare qualifications. Entry Level is divided into Entry Levels 1, 2 and 3. The framework consists of nine levels from Entry Level to Level 8. Size indicates the amount of learning required to achieve the qualification, and level indicates the complexity and demand of the learning. To be regulated, a qualification must meet the relevant regulatory requirements and be awarded by a recognised awarding organisation.