Current qualification accepted
Required by National Minimum Standards:
WJEC Level 2 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core
plus
City and Guilds Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice
or
WJEC Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
or any of the qualifications at level 3 or above listed for day care / creche workers on this framework plus one of the following
City and Guilds Level 4 Preparing for Leadership and Management in Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development
or
City and Guilds Level 4 Professional Practice in Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development
Degrees:
University of South Wales: BA Early Years Education and Practice (with Early Years Practitioner status)
University of South Wales: Fd Early Years Education and Practice (with Early Years Practitioner status)
Cardiff Metropolitan University: BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practice Status (EYPS)
Cardiff Metropolitan University: BA (Hons) Early years education and professional practice with EYPS
Glyndwr University: Fd Early Childhood Studies (EYPS)
University Trinity St Davids: BA Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
Swansea University: Early Childhood Studies with Early years practitioner
Aberystwyth University: BA Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practitioner Status
University Trinity St David’s: HE Diploma Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
Prifysgol Caerdydd: BA (Anrh) Addysg Gynnar ac Ymarferydd Proffesiynol gyda Statws Ymarferydd Blynyddoedd Cynnar (bi-lingual)
Pryfysgol Cymru y Drindod Dewi Sant: BA Addysg a Gofal Blynyddoedd Cynnar: Statws Ymarferydd Blynyddoedd Cynnar (available through the medium of Welsh)
Swansea University: Early Childhood Studies With Early Years Practitioner Status with a Year Abroad
Registration is not required
Other requirements
Those working in regulated childcare settings with children between the ages of five and 12 years may need to complete a playwork qualification set by SkillsActive to meet National Minimum Standards and regulatory requirements.
You can find more information at:
National Minimum Standards require that in settings caring for under twos:
- staff caring for babies are competent to do so
- at least 50 per cent of staff caring for babies have received training in this specific area
- the person in charge of the babies’ room has at least two years’ experience of working with children under two.
Other qualifications accepted
Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Management) Wales and Northern Ireland
Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Advanced Practice) Wales and Northern Ireland
EDEXCEL BTEC Level 3 National Certificate/Diploma Children’s Care, Learning and Development – CCLD (only if commenced prior to 2014)
Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Wales and Northern Ireland)
CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education
CACHE Extended Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
NVQ 3 Children’s Care Learning and Development
NVQ 3 Child Care and Education
NVQ 3 Early Years Care and Education
CACHE Diploma in Child Care and Education
Diploma in Nursery Nursing Level 3
Award in Early Years and Child Care for Play Workers (transitional awards)
Level 3 Certificate in Work with Children
CACHE Diploma in Nursery Nursing (DNN) (was NNEB)
National Certificate in Early Years
National Diploma in Early Years
National Diploma in Early Studies (Nursery Nursing)
Open University (OU) Level 4 Certificate in Early Years Practice
Other UK qualifications accepted
Workers moving to Wales who hold a qualification recognised by the Department of Education (England), the Northern Ireland Social Care Council or Scottish Social Service Council should complete aspects of the All Wales Induction Framework for Early Years and Childcare that are relevant to their role and the setting.
Induction requirements
Practitioners who are new to the early years and childcare sector or new to an organisation should complete the All Wales Induction Framework for Early Years and Childcare.