New Childcare Course Launched

A new childcare programme has been launched in Letterkenny by Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training (FET) Service.

The Early Learning and Care course is available as a one-year full-time QQI Level 5 award in September 2022. The programme has been developed in line with best practice in the early learning and care sector (0-6 years) and aims to improve the quality of childcare provision across the county.

Its structure and content have been devised to ensure staff in the sector are fully prepared for the demands of their professional roles by covering six mandatory modules: professional practice placement in early learning and care; children’s rights, legislation and regulation; early childhood growth and development; curriculum play and creative studies; understanding and assisting children with additional needs and the holistic care of children (0-6).

The practical nature of working with children means that work experience is a key component: two days a week are spent on work placement in a Tusla registered childcare setting. During the course, students will complete 150 hours work placement in total in two childcare settings with the hours of work determined by the placement provider. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each week are spent in class.

In addition, the course offers students the opportunity to embrace and acquire the essential life skills that are required to compete in today’s workplace and to progress to further educational studies including communication and problem-solving skills, digital literacy skills and transversal skills that can be adapted and used in other situations outside of the classroom and in any field of work such as goal setting and career planning; resilience, critical thinking and creativity, study skills, participating in online learning forums,  time management and organisational skills.

Speaking about the new course, ETB Adult Education Officer Charles Gorney said, “This qualification offers opportunities in employment as well as progression opportunities in further and higher education. Students who successfully complete this course may progress directly into employment as Early Years Practitioners in a range of early learning and care settings, both community based and private, progress onto the QQI Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care NFQ Level 6 award or progress onto other further and higher education and training programmes.”

The course runs from September 2022 to May 2023 and will be delivered in the FET Centre, Port Road Letterkenny.

With no course fees required, this is also a great course for those already working in the sector but want to develop their skills and/or acquire a qualification or who are unemployed and want to move into the Early Learning and Care sector.

You can now apply for this course on Donegal ETB’s website by clicking on this link https://bit.ly/3LjKo6n or call 074 9706047 for further information.