Education and Early Years

Course type: T Level
Awarding/exam body: NCFE

Do you like working with young children?

Do you want a fulfilling career in early years education?

If so, this course prepares you to work with children between birth and five years, with knowledge of children up to nineteen years. It’s ideal for anyone wanting a career in early years education.

You’ll understand how children develop, all about safeguarding, health and safety and wellbeing, how to support education, team working with other people, how to work with special educational needs and disability, and equality and diversity, among several other relevant, fascinating topics.

This is a two-year course equivalent to three A levels. You will spend 60% of your time in the classroom, learning the skills that employers in the education sector will need, and 40% in relevant industry placements where you’ll use those skills and gain practical, hands-on experience. You’ll need to do a minimum of 750 hours of industry placement to gain your Early Years Educator status.

Are you an employer? See our T Level Information for Employers page.

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Course Units

YEAR 1

Core Component

Wider Context

Child Development

Supporting Education

Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Wellbeing

Behaviour

Observation and Assessment

Equality and Diversity

Special Educational Needs and Disability

English as an Additional Language

Parents, Families and Carers

Working with Others

Reflective Practice

YEAR 2

Occupational Specialism (Early Years Educator)

PO1: Support and promote children’s play, development and early education

PO2: Develop relationships with children to facilitate their development

PO3: Plan, provide and review care, play and

educational opportunities to enable children to progress

PO4: Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children

PO5: Work in partnership with colleagues, parents, carers and other professionals to support children’s development

Course Assessment

Year 1

Two written exams (35% each) and one employer-set project (ESP) (30%).

Year 2

Synoptic assessments (3 assignments) and placement competencies.

Where This Course Could Take You

This course is suitable for anyone wanting a career in early years education. Successful completion will give you a licence to practise, enabling you to enter the workforce as a qualified Early Years Educator.

Alternatively, you can undertake further study as an Early Years Foundation Stage teacher, where you can specialise in delivering the Early Years or Special Needs curriculum. You can also go on to university to study early childhood studies, education studies, youth studies, or other related degrees, such as primary teaching and social work.

Entry Requirements

5 GCSEs Grade 4 or above, including Grade 4 in Maths and Grade 4 in English Language.

Grade 4 in English and Maths.

Course Highlights

T level industry placements provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for skilled employment in their chosen occupation which are less easily attainable by doing a qualification alone. We will be arranging visits from employers in the sector to ensure students are matched with appropriate businesses.

Courses

Students can take any combination of 30 A level and Level 3 Applied Diploma subjects. Vocational programmes include 11 Level 3 Extended Diplomas, including BTEC, CTEC and University of the Arts courses, and 4 T Levels. We also offer BTEC Level 2 and Foundation options, along with GCSE Maths and English language retakes.

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Students

At Saint Francis Xavier, we develop the whole person. Our commitment goes beyond academic achievement; we equip students with the confidence, values, and skills needed to thrive in higher education, employment, and adult life. With an extensive range of courses, our students receive expert teaching in our modern, state-of-the-art facilities.

Parents & Carers

Personal Tutors will work with both you and your student to overcome any obstacles and achieve their potential. We build a positive ethos around learning and behaviour, support students with discussion and advice, invite you to progress review evenings, provide each student with an Individual Learning Plan (ILP), and send you full reports.

Parent Portal

Upcoming Events

Open Evening

Wednesday, 4th March · 4pm – 6pm

Explore your options and secure your offer from Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College for September 2026.

Book your place to visit London’s top performing and friendliest sixth form college with a 97% pass rate in A levels, BTECs, UAL Diplomas and T Levels.

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Hire Our Spaces

Hold your next event with us in one of our many available spaces. Choose from: a multi-use games area, sports hall, dining hall and garden, multi-purpose hall, dance/drama studio, fitness suite, meeting/conference rooms, computer suite, chapel and music studio. Kitchen and catering facilities and free parking are also available.

Nursery

‘Happy staff make happy children’

Nightingale’s Nursery is set in the beautiful, secure grounds of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Sixth Form College where children can play outside and help tend the vegetable patch. The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework and provides a holistic learning environment, paying special attention to the transition from home to nursery, reassuring parents of their child’s wellbeing and progress on a daily basis.

Nightingale’s friendly team builds positive relationships with all the children and parents.

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What Our
Students Say

The support I received from passionate teachers who pushed me to aim higher, to the tailored guidance with university applications made all the difference. SFX believed in my potential even when I doubted myself, and that encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue my ambitions. Without that foundation, I don’t think I’d be on the path to a legal career today.

Joshua, former Sociology student

Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College announces excellent 2025 Level 3 examination results

We congratulate all our students who received their excellent public examination results today. We are delighted to see results improving on last year’s impressive pass rates across A level, BTEC, CTEC and UAL courses. Our second year T Level results have also been excellent. The overall pass rate at Level 3 was 97%, including 50% […]

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Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College was filled with colour, flavour, and pride as we hosted our much-anticipated Culture Day — a joyful celebration of the rich diversity that makes our college community so special. We are proud to be a truly inclusive college, welcoming students and staff from a wide range of cultural and […]

SFX Young Enterprise Team Wins Regional Final at Samsung KX

We’re incredibly proud to announce that our Young Enterprise team, Nexora, has won the Central, North & West London Final, held at the prestigious Samsung KX venue in King’s Cross. Representing St Francis Xavier Catholic Sixth Form College, students Guilherme, Nawid, Tiago, Ruan and Kevin competed against seven other schools in a high-pressure final that tested their innovation, professionalism and business […]

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Education and Early Years