T Level in Education and Early Years - Level 3
Overview
If you've always dreamed of working in education, and inspiring people to achieve their full potential, this T Level could be your next step towards your dream career.
The T Level in Education and Early Years is a two year programme, equivalent to 3 A levels. In addition, it provides students with a license to practice within the Early Years sector or progress to university to study Early Years or Primary Teaching.
Throughout this T Level, you will learn through classroom-based activities, as well as taking part in trips, visits, industry talks and taster events. In addition, teaching provides opportunities to develop skills through a range of active and academic learning methods.
The early years educator specialism focuses on developing the skills that prepare you for professional practice and progression into employment within early years care and education or assisting teaching with young children.
This course can lead to the following career opportunities:
- Early years educator with full license to practice
- Primary and early years education teachers and assistants
- Child social worker
- Special needs education teachers and assistants
- Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)
- Child and early years officers
- Educational support assistants and mentors
- Play therapists
- Children’s health and wellbeing leads
- Learning mentors.
When you start the course, we will assign you a progress tutor who will support you throughout your time at college. Their role is to help you in setting academic and personal targets, creating a career plan, developing employability skills and monitoring your progress to make sure you realise your full potential.
What are T Levels?
If you’re academically minded but have a skilled career route in mind, a T Level will give you a head start into your chosen industry.
T Levels are two-year qualifications that have been designed in partnership with businesses and industry-leading employers so you can develop the skills and knowledge required to kick-start your career straight from college.
- 80/20 Learning - 80% college-based, 20% on a relevant work placement
- Employer endorsed - designed with employers to provide the skills that industry needs
- 1 T Level = 3 A Levels - T Levels are nationally-recognised qualifications, equivalent to 3 A Levels.
As an alternative next-step after GCSEs, a T Level also includes a mandatory 750 work placement hours with a reputable employer within your chosen industry.
The qualification splits into core content and specialist content:
- Core content - develop your general understanding of the industry
- Specialist content - covers different topics depending on the pathway you choose.
You can find out more about T Levels by watching the video below or visiting our T Level information page which includes details about the other courses available and FAQs.
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FREE* Travel Pass
To enable you to attend your work placement, we’re pleased to offer all T Level students a West Notts Travel Pass for free! It's one pass for unlimited bus travel across much of Nottinghamshire and parts of Derbyshire. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Find out more
*Free for new and returning students for academic year 2025/2026. This is subject to change for academic year 2026/2027.
Start dates and fees
| Start Date | Code | Annual Fee | Actions |
| Sep 2025 | 2896C1653 | FREE | Apply |
What will I study?
Core units
- Wider context
- Supporting education
- Safeguarding, health and safety and wellbeing
- Behaviour
- Parents, families and carers
- Working with others
- Child development
- Observation and assessment
- Reflective practice
- Equality and diversity
- Special educational needs and disability
- English as an additional language.
Year 2 occupational specialism
- Support and promote children’s play, development and early education
- Develop relationships with children to facilitate their development plan, provide and review care, play and educational opportunities to enable children to progress
- Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children
- Work in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children’s development.
Industry placement:
Across the two years, you will need to complete an exciting 750 hours industry placement with a reputable employer. Our designated early years work placement assessors will source your work placement for you, following your college induction.
This is a great opportunity that will not only give you experience within the early years workforce, but will give you the chance to go on to higher education or employment once you've completed your T Level.
Entry requirements
This course is only available to 16-18 year olds.
Either:
- Five GCSEs at grade 4-9 including English Language and Maths
OR
- GCSE English Language and Maths grade 4-9 plus successful completion of a T Level Foundation Year - Education and Early Years. A one-year study programme specifically designed to develop the skills, experience, knowledge and behaviours to support progression onto the relevant T Level. Ideal for those who are not ready to start a T Level but have the potential to progress onto one. Contact us for more details, 0808 100 3626.
You will also need to have attended an applicant event and have a successful DBS check, alongside a suitable reference to work with young children.
How long is the course?
Two years.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed through examinations, and practical assessments in class and a project set by employers.
Upon completion you will be awarded an overall grade (Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction*). A T Level is a nationally-recognised qualification and your certificate will reflect this and will display your overall grade.
The certificate will also explain your grade from A* to E for the core component and any occupational specialisms you will receive a Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction*.
It will also record whether you’ve achieved the minimum requirements for your maths and English qualifications, completed an industry placement and met any other additional mandatory requirements.
What can I progress onto?
- Skilled employment with license to practice within the early years or assisting teaching sector
- Higher Level Apprenticeships
- Higher education (university)*.
*As we are a partner college of Nottingham Trent University (NTU), you may qualify for various benefits should you choose to apply to NTU after completing your college course. This could include a Progress NTU offer, where you would receive an offer one grade below their standard offer. For instance, a typical offer for one of their courses might require 128 UCAS tariff points. With Progress NTU, your requirements would be 120 UCAS tariff points. For further details, please call us on 0808 100 3626 or discover more about this benefit here.
Career opportunities