Leadership for Childrens Care, Learning and Development - Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA)

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Part-time
Start date: 17th September 2025
End date: 3rd June 2026
Day: Wed
Time: 13:00-21:00

Course fee: To be confirmed

Course Content

The course content, delivery and assessment will be tailored to meet the needs of both the busy student and the children’s care, learning and development employer.  The College will provide blended learning (a mix of face to face and online) designed to provide a thorough understanding of the key requirements of the role and qualification.  

An occupationally competent assessor will also provide support and feedback crafted to match the development needs of the student.  

The course is designed to recognise the current knowledge, skills and experience of the student and to support development needs.  

Students will be required to attend a mandatory pre-course information session.  

Course Aims

The Level 5 Diploma is designed for busy senior practitioners in a leadership or management role within childcare settings or for those practitioners who may have the opportunity or ambition to be appointed into a senior role. 

Assessment Methods

The Level 5 Diploma in Leadership is a work-based qualification.  Consequently, students will be assessed by direct observation in the workplace and by the creation of an online portfolio of evidence. 

You must:

• be employed or be about to take up paid employment as an apprentice, or be an existing employee moving to a new job role, with a Northern Ireland based company.
• work a minimum of 21 hours per week (which includes time for ‘off-the-job’ training).
• have attained 3 A levels or a Level 3 qualification in Child Care or equivalent.
• have GCSE English and Mathematics grade C or above or equivalent.
• be age 19 or over.

Where students wish to have prior education and/or experience taken into account, in lieu of meeting the full course entry requirements, they should contact the relevant Course Director or Admissions. APEL applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks before the start date of the programme. More details can be found in the APEL Policy.

Students who have completed the Level 5 Diploma can progress onto a Foundation Degree (offered with Stranmillis College, Queen's University Belfast) or to the top up Early childhood degree with the University of Doncaster.