Clear Qualification Details
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HIGHFIELD QUALIFICATION • ENGLAND
About the Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators
The Highfield Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators (England) (RQF) develops the knowledge and competence needed to support children’s care, learning and development. It covers practice with children from birth to five, alongside understanding of development up to seven.
This Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators is a work-related qualification. You will connect child development theory with curriculum planning, assessment, communication, safeguarding and inclusive support. Your portfolio must show how you apply this knowledge in a suitable setting in England.
If you already hold a Level 2 qualification, this can be your next step towards an educator role. Previous achievement does not automatically replace the Level 3 assessment requirements. Contact HHF Training to discuss your experience, workplace access and study plan before enrolling.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is for nursery practitioners, early years workers, childminders and nursery assistants who want to develop competence at Level 3. It is relevant to people working in nurseries, pre-schools, children’s centres, full day care or reception classes where they can demonstrate the required practice.
It also suits learners progressing from the Level 2 Diploma for Early Years Practitioners. A Level 2 qualification is useful preparation, but suitability depends on your experience, learning needs and opportunities to gather Level 3 evidence.
If you are entering childcare for the first time, discuss your access to a setting and the responsibilities you will undertake. You need more than an interest in working with children: your role or placement must allow you to plan, implement and evaluate appropriate practice under suitable supervision.
What You Will Learn
You should normally be aged 19 or over and have suitable management or leadership experience. A formal prior qualification is not essential, but you need an organisational context in which to apply the learning.
The Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators develops your understanding of children’s holistic development and how attachment, transitions and individual circumstances influence learning. You will examine development theory and connect it to everyday decisions in your setting.
Explore curriculum and pedagogy, purposeful play and the assessment approaches used to identify children’s progress and plan further support. Learn how to promote speech, language and communication, support positive behaviour and help children understand their emotions.
Inclusive practice runs throughout the course. You will consider equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice, alongside support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Safeguarding, health, safety and wellbeing are central to competent practice.
You will also examine partnership working with parents, carers and other professionals, the responsibilities of practitioners and the role of continuing professional development. The aim is to develop thoughtful, evidence-informed practice that responds to each child’s needs.
Course Structure: 14 Mandatory Highfield Level 3 Early Years Units
👉 Complete all 14 mandatory units
The qualification has 64 credits, 379 guided learning hours and 625 total qualification hours. These describe learning and assessment time; they are not a fixed placement-hour requirement.
👉 Optional units
Highfield also lists Promoting outdoor play in early years education (F/651/0051, 3 credits / 15 GLH) and Support children and families at risk of deprivation (J/651/0053, 4 credits / 22 GLH). A maximum of 4 optional credits may be achieved. Discuss availability and suitability for your job role with HHF before choosing optional study.
Unit information follows Highfield’s September 2026 specification, version 2. Visit the official Highfield qualification page for awarding-body documents.
Entry Requirements and Practical Placement
Minimum age: Highfield approves this qualification for learners aged 16 and above. It advises learners to hold Level 2 English and maths qualifications. HHF will discuss your existing qualifications and readiness for Level 3 study before enrolment. Workplace access: You need a suitable early years role or placement in England that allows you to demonstrate the required skills with babies and young children. The course covers birth to five, with knowledge extending to age seven. Agree your responsibilities, supervision and practical assessment opportunities with your setting and HHF. Placement hours: Highfield’s September 2026 specification does not state a fixed minimum number of placement hours. This does not remove the practical requirement: you must gather sufficient evidence to meet all relevant assessment criteria. HHF will agree the time and opportunities needed for your individual plan. The 379 GLH and 625 TQT figures must not be presented as placement hours. English, maths and staffing ratios: Qualification entry advice and EYFS staffing rules serve different purposes. Check the current DfE qualification requirements for suitable Level 2 English, paediatric first aid and other conditions. Maths requirements also apply to setting managers. If you need additional English or maths study, explore our Functional Skills courses. Before paying, confirm that your employer or placement can support access, safeguarding checks, workplace evidence and assessment. Ask HHF Training to review your arrangements.
How the Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Is Assessed
Highfield specifies a portfolio of evidence. You must show both understanding and practical competence, with evidence matched to the qualification requirements.
Plan your evidence with your assessor. Depending on the requirements being assessed, this may involve written work, professional discussion, reflective accounts and observation of practice. Your assessor will explain what is required and how evidence should be submitted.
Protect children’s privacy when preparing work. Follow your setting’s procedures and your assessor’s instructions for anonymising records. Completing online learning alone does not demonstrate every practical skill needed for certification.
Learning Support and Study Planning
Plan your Level 3 study around your responsibilities in the setting. Allow time for reading, reflecting on theory, planning experiences for children and organising portfolio evidence. Your study plan should include practical opportunities as well as independent learning.
Keep a record of questions for your tutor or assessor and discuss difficulties early. Evidence is easier to manage when it is gathered regularly and linked to the relevant criteria. A realistic plan helps you avoid reaching the end of your learning with practical gaps still outstanding.
Before enrolment, discuss the delivery timetable, tutor support period, assessor contact and available learning resources with HHF Training. Tell us about additional learning needs or reasonable adjustments so appropriate arrangements can be considered while maintaining assessment standards.
For general information about learning with us, read our learner FAQs or contact the course advice team.
Level 3 Diploma for Early Years: Fees and Enrolment
The current HHF Training course price is £1,095, as shown in the WooCommerce fee card above. For instalment options, speak with our course advice team before enrolment.
Ask HHF to confirm what your fee covers, including awarding organisation registration, assessment arrangements, tutor support, quality assurance and certification. Check whether workplace visits, optional units, additional support or other charges apply to your circumstances. Agree the delivery timetable and support period before you commit.
Make sure your setting can provide the practical opportunities required for the Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators. Your planned hours should allow you to develop competence and gather sufficient evidence, rather than simply complete online reading.
If you need help deciding between Level 2 and Level 3, compare the Level 2 Early Years course and discuss your experience with HHF. The right starting point depends on your readiness, responsibilities and intended progression.
VERIFY YOUR QUALIFICATION
Certification and Recognition
Successful learners achieve the Highfield Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators (England) (RQF), qualification number 610/4238/9. Certification follows completion of the required assessment and quality assurance process.
Highfield identifies this diploma as approved by the Department for Education against the Level 3 Early Years Educator criteria. Employers must also check the current EYFS conditions for inclusion in staffing ratios, including suitable English qualifications and paediatric first aid where applicable. A diploma does not replace every other staffing requirement.
Awarding Organisation
Qualification Number 610/4238/9
Verify this regulated qualification on the official Ofqual Register.
What You Will Gain: Careers and Further Progression
Through the Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators, you will learn how to:
Apply understanding of children’s development and attachment to your practice.
Plan purposeful learning experiences and use assessment to identify next steps.
Support speech, language, communication, positive behaviour and emotional development.
Provide inclusive support for children with SEND and individual learning needs.
Promote safeguarding, health, safety and wellbeing within your role.
Work with parents, carers and other professionals to support children’s progress.
Reflect on your responsibilities and identify professional development needs.
👉 Career opportunities
Two assessed activities: a presentation with questions and answers, and a group discussion. This component is assessed and quality assured by HHF Training and moderated in line with Highfield requirements.
👉 Further study
You may consider specialist SEND, leadership or further early childhood study, subject to the receiving provider’s requirements. If you later want to assess or train others, explore HHF’s course catalogue and discuss the occupational experience and entry requirements for the relevant route.
Please Check Your Intended Progression Route
If you need this qualification for a particular employer, university programme or professional route, confirm that organisation’s current entry requirements before enrolling. Requirements can change, and completing the diploma does not guarantee admission or employment.
YOUR NEXT STEP IN EARLY YEARS
Why Study with HHF Training?
Start with course advice that connects your career goal, learning needs and practical setting. Learn more about HHF Training and read our learner FAQs before enrolling.
Advice Before Enrolment
Discuss your role, placement and learning needs with HHF Training before committing.
Practical Study Planning
Plan learning and portfolio evidence around the opportunities available in your early years setting.
GET ANSWERS
Level 3 Early Years Educator Diploma FAQs
Answers about Highfield recognition, practical evidence, assessment and enrolment.
Highfield Qualifications awards the diploma. Its full title is Highfield Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators (England) (RQF), qualification number 610/4238/9. Use the Ofqual verification button above to view its official record.
No. Learning can be supported online, but you must demonstrate practical competence in a suitable early years setting. Highfield’s current specification does not state a fixed minimum placement-hour figure; sufficient workplace evidence and all assessment criteria are still required. Agree your practical arrangements with HHF before enrolling.
Assessment is through a portfolio of evidence covering knowledge and practical competence. HHF internally assesses and quality assures the evidence, with external quality support from Highfield. Your assessor will explain which methods and workplace activities are appropriate for each criterion.
Highfield identifies the qualification as DfE-approved against the Level 3 Early Years Educator criteria. Employers must check all current EYFS staffing conditions, including suitable Level 2 English and paediatric first aid where applicable. Qualification achievement alone does not replace those additional requirements.
Your completion timetable depends on your starting knowledge, study time, workplace opportunities and progress with assessment. The qualification has 625 total qualification hours, including 379 guided learning hours; these are advisory learning values, not a guaranteed course duration. Agree an individual study and assessment plan with HHF before enrolling.
Highfield’s specification does not state that a Level 2 Early Years diploma is a compulsory entry qualification. It approves delivery from age 16 and advises Level 2 English and maths. HHF will review your readiness and practical opportunities. Level 2 can be a useful foundation; recognised prior learning must be reviewed rather than assumed.