The Department for Education (DfE) describe Tech level qualifications as follows:
Tech levels are rigorous advanced (level 3) technical qualifications on a par with A Levels and recognised by employers. They are for students aged 16 plus who want to specialise in a specific industry or prepare for a particular job. They cover jobs and careers where employers recruit people at this level or where a level 3 qualification is needed before students can progress to a related higher education course. Tech levels give students an opportunity to develop specialist knowledge and skills to help them get an apprenticeship or job, for example in engineering, IT, accounting or professional cookery, or progress to a higher level qualification. In some cases, a tech level qualification is a ‘licence to practise’ or can exempt someone holding the qualification from a professional exam. Tech levels are recognised by trade or professional bodies or at least five employers. Alternatively, the qualification may be accepted by a national licensed professional registration scheme.
The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator) prepares students to become Early Years Educators, enabling them to work with and care for children from birth to 5 years, and gain knowledge of children aged 5 to 7 years. The aim of this qualification is to confirm the student’s competence to work in a Level 3 work role. It requires them to demonstrate the full application of skills, knowledge, and understanding. This qualification will guide and assess the development of knowledge and skills relating to early years.
The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Childcare and Education prepares students to progress on to the Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator). They provide students with knowledge of children from birth to seven years.
The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator) enables students to enter the workforce as early years educators, or access higher education.
The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support guides and assesses the development of knowledge and skills relating to the health workforce. This qualification confirms competence in a range of clinical healthcare support skills.
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator)
Overall qualification grading is A* – D.
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Childcare and Education and NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator)
Each unit throughout the qualification will be graded A* – D with the qualification overall grading being A* – D.
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support
Overall qualification grading is pass/refer.
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator)
To gain this qualification the student will need to achieve the following:
- Pass in all units. All units in this qualification are mandatory. Units will be internally assessed. CACHE have created innovative non-mandatory tasks for all units, with the exception of Unit 3.15 (see Longitudinal Study below), which is mandatory.
- Longitudinal Study (Unit 3.15). This will be a mandatory task set by CACHE. It will be internally assessed.
- Assessment 1. Short Answer paper based on Themes 1: Health and well-being and Theme 2: Legislation, frameworks and professional practice.
- Assessment 2. Reflective Study based on Theme 3: Play, development and learning for school readiness
- Assessment 3. Extended Essay based on Theme 3: Play, development and learning for school readiness
Assessments 1, 2 and 3 will be externally set and externally marked.
Competence in a real work environment must be demonstrated.
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Childcare and Education and NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator)
All units will be internally assessed using a range of methods. All units are graded A* – D. Students taking the Certificate must also pass an Effective Practice Study Task (externally set, externally marked). Students taking the Diploma must also pass an Effective Practice Study Task and one Extended Assessment Task (externally set, externally marked).
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support
All units are internally assessed.
Assessment enables the student’s workplace practice to provide evidence for individual units as well as the whole qualification. Methods of assessment could include:
- inference of knowledge from direct observation of practice
- witness evidence when directed by the sector skills assessment strategy
- professional discussion
- reflection on own practice in real work situations
- written assignments
- student’s own plans and written records
- task set by CACHE for knowledge learning outcomes only.
The qualification will be pass or refer and all the assessment criteria of the chosen units must be achieved in order to obtain a pass.
Tech level qualifications are advanced (Level 3) qualifications, mainly taken by 16-19 year old students who want to specialise in a specific industry, occupation, or occupational group. They equip students with specialist knowledge and skills.
There are a number of key considerations for HEPs when reviewing Tech level qualifications that do not meet the full DfE criteria from 2018:
- Applicants holding interim-reformed Tech level qualifications may not have had experience of external or synoptic assessment.
- The reformed and interim-reformed qualifications will be delivered by schools and colleges at the same time (see ‘Education context’). Therefore, HEPs may wish to consider their approach to setting and listing entry requirements for the specific qualifications.
- The dual running of the qualification may result in applicants declaring the incorrect version within their application. UCAS will be working to support applicants and advisers in this area.
- These qualifications are fundamentally different to the reformed versions and likely to result in students developing different skills and aptitudes. HEPs should review their understanding of these qualifications to ensure it remains up to date. HEPs may also wish to consider their approach to setting and listing entry requirements for the specific qualifications, and any differences should be clearly articulated.
Tech Levels are designed to support progression to employment, an apprenticeship, or to higher education.
Progression to higher education is generally within the vocational area of the Tech Level, and may be to a foundation degree.
The exact curriculum studied may depend on the choice of optional units taken.
View the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support qualification specification