CACHE Level 3 Diploma / Extended Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce

Programme outline

The qualification enables you to work with children aged from birth to19 years. It is part of a two-year qualification. For the first part of the qualification, you must achieve the Level 3 Diploma Children and Young People Workforce. Once achieved, you will be able to progress onto the Level 3 Extended Diploma. You will be required to undertake 10 mandatory units and 8 extended optional units totalling 85 credits. In addition to the extended units, the Extended Diploma includes three extended assessments which will be marked externally. As part of the course you will carry out practical work experience during your time on the course.

What do I need to get on the course?

College interview and written assessment, plus 5 GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and maths or equivalent. This course requires you to do a work placement where you will be regularly caring for, supervising, training, or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults. As an organisation that is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we will ask you to have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure if you will be going on such a work placement. This will be done by us via the Disclosure and Barring System. Please note that having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from studying with us. This will depend on the nature of the course and the circumstances and background of your offences.

Where does it lead?

Foundation Degree

How will I learn?

You will learn through theory sessions, written assignments and tasks. You will also develop research and presentations skills. Tasks are based on a voluntary placement.

How will the learning be examined or assessed?

The extended mandatory and optional units will be internally assessed by vocational staff using the mandatory assessment tasks set by the awarding body, CACHE. The three extended assessments will be externally assessed by CACHE.

Where do I go if I have further questions?

Prospective students can contact the course information team on 020 7613 9123. Or, you can email them: info@hackney.ac.uk

How much will it cost?

Don’t worry about the cost of learning! We can help and advise you. 16-18 year-olds do not have to pay tuition fees on FE courses and if you would have been eligible for EMA, you may now receive a bursary. Transport for London student travel cards are available, giving discounts to 16-18s. If you’re aged 18-23, many courses are FREE or DISCOUNTED. If you’re aged 24 or over and enrolling on an approved level 3 or higher further education course, you can get a government loan to cover the tuition cost of your course. You don’t start paying back this loan until you earn a minimum of £21,000 per year – and the amount you are charged depends on how much you earn. Visit the ‘Fees’ section of our website which is found under the ‘Supporting you’ tab at the top of this page for more information.

How do I enrol?

For 16-18 year old students main enrolment is the day when GCSE results are released (August).

However, early enrolment does take place during the summer. Please contact our central admissions department for details on 020 7613 9123 or by email: info@hackney.ac.uk.

For adults our main enrolment week is the last week in August.

Student success

Our students love studying here and most progress onto higher level courses with us.

What's the time commitment

In addition to the class, you will be expected to spend at least 7 hours a week studying. You are also required to attend a work setting 2 days per week.

Where do I go?

Shoreditch Campus, Falkirk Street, London N1 6HQ. Visit the “How to find us” page on our website for directions.

Support for you

Before you start your lessons, you’ll take part in induction sessions, where you’ll meet other students and find out all about the support that’s available to you. This includes learning about the Virtual Learning Environment, tutorials and the campus facilities. All students can receive free, confidential and impartial advice on things like: your next step in education or your career, finance, housing, health, immigration, benefit claims, legal problems, sexual health, drugs, staying safe, personal / emotional concerns and other issues.

The college experience

Based in the heart of Hoxton, our Shoreditch Campus is a great place to study. It’s spacious, with well-thought our study facilities – plus outdoor and indoor social areas to catch up with friends. Students from many different backgrounds come to HCC and achieve Last year, 91% of our students said they’d recommend us to a friend. 83% said the college was a friendly place to study, 79% planned to progress onto another course with us and 97% felt that HCC was a safe place to be.

Information about the college

HCC is an award-winning College (Queen’s Anniversary Prize, Beacon Awards Winner (two years running), London Education Partnership Awards, TES 2012 FE Awards Winner, Investors in People GOLD award – and more!) It’s officially a ‘Good’ College (Ofsted 2010) with 82% of teachers good or outstanding. Courses range from pre-entry level right up to post-graduate level.