Children's Care, Learning and Development (Leadership and Management Pathway) - Level 5 Diploma

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Part-time
Start date: 17th September 2025
End date: 3rd June 2026
Day: Wed
Time: 13:00-21:30
Information Event: Yes

Course fees for each year.

Fees are payable annually.
The fees for year 2 may be subject to change.

Course Content

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. 

Candidates must be:

• 18 years old or over and working as a Leader, Deputy Leader, Assistant Manager or Deputy Manager in a children’s care, learning and development setting (minimum contract 10 hours) or be in a position to carry out management activities in a setting with the support of management (if not currently in a management role) 
• Hold a Level 3 qualification in Childcare & Learning Development or equivalent
• Satisfy an ACCESS NI Assessment and health checks.

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.

In the event of oversubscription, the College reserves the right to increase the entry criteria for this programme to GCSE Maths and English at Grade C or above in preference to Essential Skills or lower graded GCSEs. Applicants will still be reviewed in date order and by order of preference.

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.