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Early Years Care and Education Level 3 Diploma

Study Method Online
Provider Lift College
Start Date Enrol anytime
Lift College

Course overview

The Level 3 Early Years Educator (EYE) is the Level 3 childcare qualification for working with children from birth to five, and the one nurseries and preschools need for staff who count in EYFS ratios. Lift College’s version is the TQUK Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Care and Education (Early Years Educator) (RQF), listed by the DfE as full and relevant at Level 3.

Study online with a named UK tutor and build your portfolio and placement hours in the setting where you work or volunteer, employed or voluntary.

Who's It For?

  • Work or volunteer in a nursery, pre-school or reception setting and want the Level 3 the DfE lists
  • Are a Level 2 practitioner ready to count in ratios and lead a room
  • Can complete at least 300 hours in an Ofsted-registered setting following the EYFS
  • Prefer portfolio and observed practice to exams
  • Are 16 or over

Job outcomes

  • Early Years Practitioner / Early Years Educator (Level 3) — able to count in EYFS staff-to-child ratios in nurseries and pre-schools
  • Room leader in a nursery or pre-school
  • Nursery Manager (with further experience)

Want to see more job outcomes and how your future could change?

Study method

  • Online Online info icon
    Online delivery - online course content with the exception of assessments and work placement
  • Blended Blended info icon
    Blended delivery - both online course content and partial face to face requirements
  • In-class In-class info icon
    In class delivery - predominately face to face course content conducted at a specific location
  • Virtual Virtual info icon
    Virtual Delivery - Live and interactive classroom-style learning conducted completely online
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Duration study load

Typical duration is 12 to 18 months, studying approximately 8 to 12 hours a week online, plus 300 hours in an Ofsted-registered early years setting.

Delivery

You study this Ofqual-regulated TQUK diploma online with a named UK tutor. You still complete at least 300 placement hours in an Ofsted-registered setting that follows the EYFS, and your practice is observed there. There are no exams. Study is self-paced with no term dates.

Entry requirements

  • Age 16 or over
  • A suitable Level 2 English qualification, such as GCSE English grade 4+ or Functional Skills English Level 2, is needed to be counted as full and relevant (Level 2 maths is no longer required for this, per DfE Early years qualification requirements and standards, July 2026)
  • Must be able to complete a minimum of 300 hours in an Ofsted-registered setting following the EYFS, employed or voluntary
  • TQUK notes learners may benefit from a Level 2 early years qualification

Find out more about the entry requirements for this course

Pathways

After completing the Level 3 Early Years Educator diploma, possible next steps include:

  • Level 5 Diploma in Teaching — for teaching post-16 (120 credits, 250 placement hours)
  • Level 3 Teaching Assistant diploma — for those wishing to work in schools with older children (44 credits, school-based)

Course features

  • Named UK tutor from enrolment through to certificate
  • Work marked in 5 to 7 working days
  • Resubmit at no extra cost if a unit is referred
  • AI Study Support included
  • Progress dashboard showing completed and upcoming work
  • TQUK certificate included — verifiable via TQUK's certificate verification service
  • No exams; portfolio and observed practice only
  • 7-day free trial; nothing charged until day 8
  • 14-day money-back guarantee on every payment
  • No contract, no credit check, cancel any time

Work placement

Learners must complete and evidence a minimum of 300 hours in an Ofsted-registered setting that follows the EYFS, employed or voluntary.

  • Employed or voluntary, in a setting that follows the EYFS
  • Hours must cover the age ranges in the early years educator standard
  • Practice is observed by the tutor or a workplace witness
  • Your setting may require you to be 18 for an enhanced DBS check or lone working

Professional Recognition

This qualification is regulated by Ofqual and awarded by TQUK (Training Qualifications UK), an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation. Qualification number: 610/3598/1.

The diploma is listed by the Department for Education (DfE) as full and relevant at Level 3, enabling holders (with a suitable Level 2 English qualification) to count in staff-to-child ratios in nurseries and pre-schools under the EYFS statutory framework.

Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre; TQUK approves the centre, tutors, and delivery method. External quality assurance is carried out by TQUK.

Assessment

There are no exams. Assessment uses:

  • Portfolio for knowledge (assignments, tasks, questions, workbooks)
  • Observation of practice in the setting for skills
  • Witness statements where appropriate

Work is internally marked and externally quality assured by TQUK. Grading is Pass only.

Marked in 5 to 7 working days. If a unit is referred, learners may resubmit at no extra cost until every criterion is met. The certificate is issued by TQUK.

Subjects

The course comprises 17 mandatory units totalling 70 credits and 498 guided learning hours (700 total qualification time). There are no optional units. Learners practise in an Ofsted-registered setting following the EYFS framework.

Core Units
R/650/9537Understand development of babies and young children
T/650/9538Prepare young children for the transition to school
Y/650/9539Safeguarding and child protection in the early years
F/650/9540Promote the health, safety and welfare of babies and young children
J/650/9542Support the physical care, health and wellbeing of babies and young children in early years settings
R/650/9546Promote equality, diversity and inclusive practice in early years settings
A/650/9549Support self-regulation, emotional wellbeing and positive behaviour within the early years
L/650/9553Support children with special educational needs and disability
R/650/9555Promote positive attachments in early years settings
T/650/9556Support babies and young children through transitions and significant life events
Y/650/9557Promote purposeful play activities within early years settings
A/650/9558Develop early literacy, reading and mathematical skills with young children
D/650/9559The role of assessment in early years and child development
J/650/9560Effective record keeping and information sharing in the early years
K/650/9561Promoting effective partnership in early years settings
L/650/9562Professional practice and developing as an early years educator
M/650/9563Promote speech, language and communication in the early years

Want more information about the subjects for this course?

Payment options

There are two payment options:

  • Free 7-day trial then monthly: Full access for 7 days at no cost; first payment charged on day 8. Monthly billing with a 14-day money-back guarantee on every payment. No contract, no credit check, cancel any time.
  • Start now (monthly, 15% off for life): Skip the trial, pay today, and every payment is 15% lower for as long as you study. 14-day money-back guarantee applies.
  • Annual billing: Pay annually and save 15% compared to monthly. The 7-day free trial and 14-day money back apply either way.

No credit agreement is signed; there is no debt and no finance company involved. If you stop paying, you simply stop studying.

Some learners may qualify for a funded apprenticeship or a local-authority place depending on age, employer and region. Lift College's route is not government funded.

Find out more about the payment options for this course

About Lift College

Lift College is a fully online UK education provider dedicated to A-Levels and GCSEs. Every course is designed, taught and assessed to give adult and independent learners a genuine second route into the qualifications employers, universities and colleges recognise. All teaching happens online. Learners study on our purpose-built online campus with a named UK tutor, structured modules, marked assignments and an AI Study Assistant that answers questions instantly and points learners to the exact page of the specification they need. There is no timetable to keep, no travel, and no fixed start date. Learners begin any day of the year, pause and resume when life gets busy, and move through the material at whatever pace works for them. Every course starts with a 7-day free trial. Learners get full access to the online campus, tutor support, and study materials from day one, and nothing is charged until the trial ends. After the trial, learners have a further 14-day refund period, so there is no financial risk in trying Lift College properly before committing. After that, courses run on a simple monthly subscription with exam entry included. There is no contract, no commitment, no exit fees, no credit checks, and no risk. Learners can cancel or pause at any time, for any reason, in a couple of clicks from their dashboard. Written exams are sat in person at established private-candidate exam centres across England, with entry, venue and invigilation arranged for the learner in advance. Every A-Level and GCSE is delivered to the same awarding-body specifications, and results in the same certificates, as those awarded in schools and colleges. UKPRN 10102267.

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