NZ Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4)

Summary

This programme is designed for those currently working in the ECE sector who are looking to complete a higher-level qualification, those needing to upskill as home-based early childhood educators, those looking for a career change, and students who have completed Level 3 ECE certificates wanting to move into higher levels of study. This programme equips students with the essential knowledge and skills to work in a range of roles within the early childhood sector.

This is a distance learning programme that is delivered online. Students are guided by unit standards, and workbooks are written specifically for home-based education and care. Learning can be self-paced, although students will work with our tutors and other learners through emails and online discussion groups to gain peer support and a sense of community. Theory is delivered through our online Cloud Campus through slideshows, short videos, computer-based video training, webinars and online tutorials through the Cloud Campus Learning Management System (LMS). Practical learning is delivered in the form of exercises, simulated scenarios, and projects to be completed in paper format or online.

There is a practical workplace component in the programme that requires students to attend an early childhood setting for a minimum of 4 hours a week on average in either; a licensed early childhood centre, licensed home-based centre, or certified playgroup setting. Students are encouraged to practically apply their learning within their home-based practice or work placements as practical training.

Graduates of this programme will be able to operate as home-based educators, ECE educators within a centre context, become ECE support workers or even volunteer workers within a range of ECE settings. Graduates may also pathway into further study towards qualifications such as the NZ Diploma in Early Childhood Education (Level 5).