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WHAT IS EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION ?
This programme will be of interest to school leavers and mature students wishing to gain qualifications in the area of Early Childhood Care and Education. The course will be of interest to those wishing to work in a variety of childcare contexts, those already working in the childcare sector who wish to obtain academic qualifications in the area, and those who already have some qualifications in childcare and now wish to transfer to a Degree programme. Its overall aim is to produce competent and skilled early childhood professionals. In this regard, the programme takes account of the progressive nature of professional development and facilitates this progression through a structured interaction between theory and practice. The programme is underpinned by policy documents such as the Model Framework for Education Training and Professional Development in the Early Childhood Care and Education Sector, the NCCA Framework for Early Learning, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education as well as the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations.
The programme aims to provide students with knowledge and skills in the core areas of Child Development, Education and Play, Social Environment, Health Hygiene Nutrition and Safety, Personal and Professional Development, and Communications Management and Administration. An integrated approach will be taken to the development of knowledge so that learners become aware of the interconnectivity of the various disciplines.
The programme comprises taught academic modules, practical and creative modules, and three work placement components designed to give the learner the opportunity to gain experience in different areas of childcare and education. The first two years of the programme will focus on the core areas of child development, early learning, child health and health promotion, and child-centred practice. In addition students will study the use of art, music, drama and PE with young children, aspects of sociology and social policy, law, early childhood disability, and first and second language acquisition. The third year of the programme will also include modules on family studies, early childhood disorders and interventions, comparative social policy, and second language development in multicultural settings. In the fourth year of the programme, as well as building on the core areas of the previous years, there is an opportunity to specialise in areas such as curriculum design, intervention and management of challenging behaviour, and running your own business. A key component of the final year is a dissertation which aims to bring together the theory and practice of the programme in an integrated manner.
This course has not been validated, however once this process is completed, more information will be available on our website with regard to the exact detail of the course content.
For more information on these courses please email info@itb.ie.
Garda Clearance
As part of the course content, each student may be required to successfully complete work placement. In order to commence work placement, each student must undergo the ITB Garda vetting process. To ensure the protection of the public, and to justify public trust and confidence, the Institute is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake specific parts of the programmes. Without satisfactory Garda clearance, students will be unable to complete the work placemen and thus will not be able to complete the programme or receive an award. All places on the Early Childhood and Education courses are provisional and subject to the student obtaining satisfactory Garda vetting from the Central Garda Vetting Unit. The current legal minimum age for application for sole application for Garda vetting is 18 years of age. In the event of an applicant being between 16 and 18 years of age, written consent is also required from a parent or guardian.
In addition to Garda vetting a medical assessment and provision of personal references may be required in regard to suitability for placement.
View our range of full time Early Childhood Care and Education courses...
Full time Early Childhood Care and Education course list
Career Opportunities
On completion of this programme, graduates will have the knowledge skills and competences to practice as early childhood professionals in a number of settings such as crèches, nurseries, playgroups, pre-schools, primary schools and breakfast / homework clubs. They would also be able to practice in more specialist areas such as special needs services or early intervention projects. Graduates may be employed in the public, private or voluntary sectors.
