Vocational qualifications are either work-related qualifications designed to enable students to gain the skills required to perform a particular job, or qualifications that may be taken as part of a wider study programme or an apprenticeship.
Schools and colleges may offer qualifications that are not included in the DfE performance tables, if approved for teaching to 16-19 year olds by the Secretary of State for Education in England under Section 96, where this is in the best interests of individual students.
The aim of these qualifications is to enable students to access Higher Education or assist with progression into the workplace.
These qualifications have been designed, written and reviewed by a team of subject matter experts, employers and Higher Education Providers.
Students will develop generic, transferable skills valued by employers, such as effective teamwork, planning and health and safety principles. As well as extending their creative and intellectual abilities, e.g. communication, innovation and critical evaluation.
For those who wish to study at a higher level, the qualifications will enable them to develop higher level learning skills such as independent working, research, self-reflection and collaborative learning.
601/3998/5 - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Childcare and Education
A* – D
601/4574/2 - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Child Care and Education (Wales)
A – E
600/7093/6 - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma for Children's Care, Learning and Development (Wales and Northern Ireland)
A* – E
601/2629/2 - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Year Educator)
Pass/Fail
501/0476/7 - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools
Pass/Fail
603/2496/X - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning
Pass/Fail
601/3998/5 - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Childcare and Education
All units will be internally assessed using a range of methods. All units are graded A* – D.
601/4574/2 - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Child Care and Education (Wales)
Units 1 - 5 are each assessed through assignments which are externally set and internally marked. The short answer paper is externally set and externally marked.
600/7093/6 - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma for Children's Care, Learning and Development (Wales and Northern Ireland)
The CCLD units will be internally assessed. The extended units will be internally assessed using mandatory assessment tasks which are externally set. The three extended assessments will be externally assessed. The optional unit; Understand how to set up a home-based childcare service, (unit number: CYPOP 5, unit reference: Y/600/9770) may only be assessed via an externally assessed multiple choice examination.
601/2629/2 - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Year Educator)
All units are mandatory and will be internally assessed. Unit 3.15 (Longitudinal Study) is a mandatory task set by CACHE and internally assessed. Competence in a real work environment must be demonstrated.
501/0476/7 - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools
All units will be internally assessed.
603/2496/X - NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning
All units will be internally assessed.
There are a number of key considerations for HEPs when reviewing vocational qualifications that are not listed on the DfE 16 – 19 performance tables for England:
- Some of these qualifications are occupational, and may not be designed specifically for progression to HE.
- Applicants holding these qualifications may be school or college leavers, however, some may be more mature students who are likely to have other relevant experience alongside these qualifications.
- These qualifications may have been taken as part of a wider study programme or an apprenticeship.
- If they are presented for admission to HE it is likely to be in conjunction with other qualifications.
These qualifications have been developed in partnership with employers, universities and other subject experts to ensure that the content is current and relevant.
Level 3 criteria require students to analyse, draw conclusions, interpret or justify, which are all examples of higher level skills. This means that evidence provided for the portfolio will also demonstrate the development and use of higher level learning skills.
Students may combine these qualifications with other qualifications e.g. A levels or other vocational qualifications.
View the qualification specifications:
- NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Childcare and Education
- NCFE CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Child Care and Education (Wales)
- NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma for Children's Care, Learning and Development (Wales and Northern Ireland)
- NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator)
- NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools
- NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning