Pen Green Research, Training and Development Base is widely recognised by practitioners and official bodies as an exemplary centre for early years professional development. Based in our outstanding, integrated early years centre, this course will give you the opportunity to benefit from the activities and practices in our nursery school, early years provision and children’s centre.
Find out what our students say about studying at Pen Green.
Our courses offer a unique, community learning experience. We offer small, intimate cohorts and personalised support. On study weeks, students are encouraged to work in pairs and small groups, and to share experiences with their peers.
The programmes are taught by an enthusiastic, experienced team of tutors from Pen Green. Tutors work as an integrated team, most have roots in early childhood education, primary education, social work, health care and research. All tutors are intent on supporting you as an independent learner and seeing you succeed and grow in confidence, knowledge and understanding as well as develop your practice working with children and their parents.
The Early Years Educator Level 3 course provides learners with the knowledge and skills required to become a certified childcare professional. Our course is expertly tailored to the job role of an early years educator and will teach you the skills required to ensure young children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.
This course creates a concrete platform for professional development within the childcare sector.
The Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5 apprenticeship is the perfect programme for a senior practitioner looking to develop their leadership skills.
As an early years lead practitioner, you’ll have a leadership role within your setting and will support the operational delivery of quality care to young children within your setting.
We’re proud to be one of only a small number of providers in England delivering the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (EYTDA) in partnership with the University of Greenwich.
Launching this September, this innovative work-based programme enables eligible early years practitioners to achieve a BA (Hons) Early Years with Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) while remaining in employment.
Expressions of Interest are now open.
Find out more about the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship
The NCFE CACHE Level 1 Award in an Introduction to Early Years Settings. The CACHE Level 1 qualification will allow learners to gain a basic knowledge of childcare in an early years environment. It is a 20 week course and is aimed at parents and volunteers who are interested in child development and may continue their studies further to enable them to work in an early years setting.
Please contact us for more information enquiries@pengreen.org
The CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) will prepare you to become an Early Years Educator, by enabling you to work with children from birth to five years and gain knowledge of children aged five to seven years.
Once completed you will hold a nationally recognised, full and relevant qualification and can progress onto a Foundation Degree in Integrated Working with Children and their Families in the Early Years.
Taught online
This specialist qualification is designed to support the continuing professional development (CPD) of early years practitioners who are working or volunteering with babies and young children under the age of two. Developed in line with statutory requirements, it aims to deepen knowledge and understanding of high-quality care practices for this specific age group.
The qualification focuses on the unique needs of babies and very young children, helping practitioners enhance their skills in creating safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environments. It is ideal for those looking to expand their expertise in early infant care within a professional setting.
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