National Qualifications Framework
Below is a list of many of the commonly awarded childcare qualifications shown along their equivalent level counterparts. For guidance, an A-Level qualification is considered to be Level 3, and a GCSE (Grade A*-C or 4-9) a Level 2
LEVEL 1
- Foundation Award in Caring for Children (CACHE)
- Playwork with Children over 5 EMFEC
- Other - Level 1
LEVEL 2
- BTEC First Diploma in Caring/ Early Years (BTEC, Edexcel)
- Certificate in Child Care and Education (CACHE)
- Certificate in Playwork / Pre-School Practice / Playgroup Practice (PLA, CACHE, NCFE)
- Childcare in Practice (NOCN)
- Childcare and Education (NOCN)
- Childcare and Education in the Early Years (NOCN)
- Learning Support Assistants Programme (NOCN)
- Working with Under 2s Certificate (PLA)
- NVQ Level 2 /Certificate in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CACHE, City & Guilds, NCFE)
- NVQ Level 2 in Childcare and Education (CACHE, CEYA, City & Guilds, Edexcel)
- NVQ Level 2 in Playwork / Early Years Care and Education (CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel)
- NVQ Level 2 for Teaching Assistants (BTEC, City & Guilds, CACHE)
- Any NVQ Level 2 qualification
- Other - Level 2
LEVEL 3
- Certificate in Nursery Nursing (NNEB)
- Certificate in Nursery Management Skills (NAMCW)
- Certificate in Work with Children (City & Guilds, CACHE)
- Certificate for Teaching Assistants level 3 (CACHE, NFCE)
- Certificate in Early Years Curriculum Development (NCFE)
- Certificate in Childcare and Education (NOCN)
- Certificate in Childminding Practice / Diploma in Home-based Childcare (CACHE)
- Advanced Certificate in Playwork/Playgroup practice (NAMCW, NCFE)
- Advanced Certificate in Childcare and Education (NAMCW)
- Diploma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB, NAMCW)
- Diploma in Pre school Practice / Early Years Practice / Childcare & Education (PLA, CACHE)
- BTEC National Award in Early Years (BTEC, Edexcel)
- BTEC National Certificate in Early Years/ Childhood Studies (BTEC, Edexcel)
- BTEC National Diploma in Childhood Studies (Nursery Nursing) (BTEC, Edexcel)
- BTEC Higher National Certificate in Early Childhood Studies (BTEC, Edexcel)
- BTEC National Diploma in Caring (Nursery Nursing) (BTEC, Edexcel)
- NVQ Level 3 Children's Care, Learning and Development (CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI)
- NVQ Level 3 Teaching / Classroom Assistants (BTEC, CACHE, City &Guilds)
- NVQ Level 3 in Playwork (BTEC, CACHE, City & Guilds)
- NVQ Level 3 in Childcare and Education (BTEC, CACHE, City & Guilds)
- Any NVQ Level 3 qualification
- Other - Level 3
LEVEL 4
- Certificate in Early Years Practice (Open University)
- Diploma / Certificate in Higher Education
- Diploma in Theory and Practice in the Montessori Method of Education
- Advance Diploma in Child Care and Education (CACHE)
- International Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy
- NVQ Level 4 in Early Years Care and Education (CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel)
- NVQ Level 4 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI)
- Any NVQ Level 4 qualification
- Other - Level 4
LEVEL 5
- BTEC Higher National Diploma in Early Childhood Studies
- Early Years Sector Endorsed Foundation Degree
- Foundation Degree
- Diploma in Higher Education and Playwork
- Higher Level Teaching Assistant
- Other - Level 5
LEVEL 6
- Bachelors Degree
- Bachelor of Education (BEd)
- BA Early Childhood Studies
- Early Years Professional Status
- Other - Level 6
LEVEL 7
- Masters degree
- Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
- National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)
- National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL)
- Other - Level 7
LEVEL 8