2 years / Level 6 / Full-time / Work Placement
The Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Care, Health & Education is a two-year course that equips graduates with the necessary competencies to work in a supervisory position with young children and their families. It is an invigorating and exciting career path with opportunity to gain employment as a lead Early Childhood Educator.
The Higher Certificate programme is delivered with theory lectures, practical work, and group tutorial classes, adopting a spiral curriculum approach. This method progressively builds on the student’s capacity as an Early Childhood Educator, assessor and facilitator of young children’s learning and development through play.
Modules are designed to prepare the student to work as a room supervisor in an early childhood service, leading keyworker systems in pedagogy, curriculum implementation and programme planning. This qualification is desirable to lead colleagues in rooms caring for babies, toddlers, and preschool children. Course assessment is through a variety of means to include authentic assessment that relates to the real working world. Practice Placement is an integral part of the students experience where the student has opportunity to apply theory to practice and enhance their skillset through reflective practice.
Certain semesters of this course are taken in common with other courses.
Minimum Entry Requirements
Points 161 (2023)
Information for:
The main employers are:
Department Administration: +353 (0)74 9186309 / +353(0)74 9186310
Head of Department Dr Nigel McKelvey Email: EESS.Donegal@atu.ie Telephone:
School and Department Faculty of Science & Health Department of Early Education & Social Studies
Bachelor of Science (Ord)