New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4) [Version 2]

NZ2850

If you want to care for infants, toddlers and young children in homebased settings, education and care centres and playgroups our New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4) may be right for you.

  •  
    Level
    4
  •  
    Credits
    60
  •  
    Student loan

    This programme can only be studied part-time.  It is not eligible for course-related costs, living costs or student allowances from StudyLink.

     

If you have NCEA Level 2 or equivalent this is a great way to start your ECE career.

You will study three courses and volunteer or work in a licensed ECE service for 3 hours a week.

The purpose of this qualification is to provide Aotearoa New Zealand with people who can provide practice-based education and care in a specific early childhood context. This is the minimum qualification requirement for licensed home-based educators, and further details can be accessed from the Ministry of Education.

This qualification is intended for people who intend to work as early childhood educators, particularly in the home-based sector, or proceed to further study. Graduates will enhance family, whānau and community outcomes and will support mokopuna - infants, toddlers and young children.

Graduates will be able to operate independently and self-manage, taking some responsibility for the performance of others. The early childhood education (ECE) setting and associated regulatory framework and criteria will determine the level of supervision under which graduates will operate when employed. For example, home-based regular sole charge practitioners would be under general supervision, while parent-led session leaders would provide guidance and supervision of others.

Zero fees Offer

This programme is currently offered under zero fees. Please read the terms and conditions to see if you are eligible and to see how you can claim this offer.

 

What you will learn

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

  • Guide the holistic development and learning of children through the application of key early childhood theories and approaches.
  • Promote children's learning through observing, planning, implementing and reviewing culturally responsive learning experiences (including play-based experiences) for mokopuna - infants, toddlers, and young children, using knowledge of the child in the context of their whanau, Te Whāriki and supporting documents.
  • Provide an environment guided by community and government services, legislation and regulatory requirements, to protect and support the holistic well-being, safety, health, nutrition and care of infants, toddlers, young children/ mokopuna and their whānau/ families.
  • Communicate effectively and use strategies to promote cultural, social and emotional competencies, and engage in respectful, reciprocal, and responsive relationships within an early childhood education and care community.
  • Reflect on personal and professional development, and implement strategies that manage own health, wellbeing (including resilience) and professionalism in an early childhood setting
  • Implement culturally responsive and inclusive ECE practice underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi, Ka Hikitia and Tau Mai Te Reo, through the use of te reo and tikanga Māori with mokopuna/children and whānau/families in early childhood settings.
  • Apply knowledge of the diverse philosophical and cultural contexts and approaches informing early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand to develop a personal philosophy of practice.

Workplace component

The programme includes a supervised work placement in an ECE setting of 3 hours per week over 16 weeks for each of the three courses with a total of 144 work placement hours.

  • licensed early childhood centre
  • licensed home-based setting affiliated to a home-base service or nanny provider
  • certificated playgroup setting recognised for funding purposes by the Ministry of Education or Ministry of Health. These will be programmes with a focus on supporting families/whānau and young children

You need to tell us the name of the ECE service where you will be doing your practical work during the online enrolment process.

Maximum Programme Completion Time 

To be awarded the qualification, the programme must be completed in no more than 2 years of first enrolment, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

  •  
    Level
    4
  •  
    Credits
    60
  •  
    Student loan

    This programme can only be studied part-time.  It is not eligible for course-related costs, living costs or student allowances from StudyLink.