Clear Qualification Details
Check the Highfield qualification number and recognition before choosing your course.
HIGHFIELD QUALIFICATION • ENGLAND
About This Qualification
The Highfield Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators (England) (RQF) builds the knowledge and practical skills to support children’s care, learning and development. It covers children from birth to five, with knowledge of development up to age seven.
This early years educator qualification combines study with practice in a suitable setting in England. Learn about child development, planning, assessment, communication, safeguarding and inclusion.
A Level 2 award may help you prepare. It does not automatically replace any Level 3 assessment. Contact HHF Training to discuss your experience, setting and study plan.
Who Is This Course For?
This Level 3 childcare course suits nursery practitioners, early years workers, childminders and nursery assistants. You need a role or placement where you can show the required practice.
Suitable settings may include nurseries, pre-schools, children’s centres, full day care and reception classes.
You may be progressing from the Level 2 Diploma for Early Years Practitioners. HHF reviews your experience, learning needs and access to Level 3 evidence.
If you are new to childcare, discuss your setting and duties before enrolling. You must be able to plan, carry out and review suitable activities under appropriate supervision.
What You Will Learn
The Level 3 Diploma for Early Years covers these areas:
Learn how children develop and how attachment, life changes and individual needs affect learning. Use development theories to guide decisions in your setting.
Explore curriculum, teaching methods and purposeful play. Assess children’s progress and plan support. Help with speech, language, communication, behaviour and emotions.
Learn about equality, diversity, inclusion and fair treatment. Support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Keep safeguarding, health, safety and wellbeing central to your work.
Work with parents, carers and other professionals. Review your responsibilities and plan ongoing development. Use evidence to guide practice and respond 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 two optional units: 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).
You may achieve a maximum of four optional credits. Ask HHF about availability and whether the units fit your role before choosing optional study.
The unit information follows Highfield’s September 2026 specification, version 2. Visit the official Highfield qualification page for the awarding-body documents.
Entry Requirements and Practical Placement
Age and study skills: Highfield approves entry from age 16. It advises Level 2 English and maths. HHF reviews your qualifications and readiness for Level 3 study.
Setting: You need a suitable early years role or placement in England. Agree duties, supervision and assessment opportunities with your setting and HHF. Practice covers birth to five, with knowledge extending to age seven.
Practical time: Highfield’s September 2026 specification sets no fixed minimum placement hours. You must still provide enough evidence to meet every relevant criterion. HHF agrees the time and opportunities needed for your plan. The 379 Guided Learning Hours and 625 Total Qualification Time hours are not placement hours.
Staffing requirements: Course entry advice and EYFS staffing rules have different purposes. Check the current DfE qualification requirements for English, paediatric first aid and other conditions. Maths requirements also apply to setting managers.
Explore our Functional Skills courses if you need English or maths study. Before paying, confirm that your setting can support practical evidence, assessment and safeguarding checks. Ask HHF Training to review your plan.
Assessment and Evidence
Build a portfolio that shows your knowledge and practical skills. Match evidence to the qualification requirements.
Agree an evidence plan with your assessor. Methods may include written work, discussion, reflection and observation. Your assessor explains what each criterion needs and how to submit work.
Protect children’s privacy. Follow your setting’s rules and remove personal details as instructed. Online learning alone cannot show every practical skill required.
Learning Support and Study Planning
Plan study alongside your setting responsibilities. Allow time to read, reflect, plan activities for children and organise evidence. Include practical opportunities as well as independent learning.
Collect evidence regularly and link it to the criteria. Keep questions for your tutor and raise difficulties early.
Before enrolling, agree the delivery timetable, support period, assessor contact and resources. Tell HHF about learning or access needs so support can be considered within the assessment rules.
Read our learner FAQs or contact the course advice team.
Fees and Enrolment
See the course fee card for the current price. For instalments, speak with our course advice team before enrolling.
Ask what the fee covers, including registration, assessment, tutor support, quality checks and certification. Check any charges for workplace visits, optional units or extra support. Agree the timetable and support period before paying.
Your setting must give you enough opportunities to develop and show practical skills. Online reading alone cannot complete the course.
If you are choosing a starting level, compare the Level 2 Early Years course. Discuss your readiness and duties with HHF.
VERIFY YOUR QUALIFICATION
Certification and Recognition
Complete the assessments and quality checks to earn the Highfield Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators (England) (RQF). Its qualification number is 610/4238/9.
Highfield identifies this diploma as DfE-approved against the Level 3 Early Years Educator criteria. Employers must check all current EYFS staffing conditions, including suitable English and paediatric first aid where required. The diploma does not replace those other conditions.
Awarding Organisation
Qualification Number 610/4238/9
Verify this regulated qualification on the official Ofqual Register.
What You Will Gain: Careers and Further Progression
Use the course to develop your early years practice:
- Apply knowledge of child development and attachment.
- Plan learning activities and assess next steps.
- Support speech, language, communication, behaviour and emotions.
- Include children with SEND and individual needs.
- Promote safeguarding, health, safety and wellbeing.
- Work with parents, carers and other professionals.
- Review your responsibilities and development needs.
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
The Highfield early years diploma can support development towards an educator role in a suitable nursery, pre-school or other early years setting.
Check the employer’s role and staffing requirements. Your wider qualifications, experience and practical skills also matter. The diploma does not guarantee a job.
👉 Further study
You may consider further study in SEND, leadership or early childhood. The next provider sets its entry requirements.
If you want to assess or train others, explore HHF’s course catalogue. Discuss the experience and entry requirements for the route you choose.
Please Check Your Intended Progression Route
Ask the employer, university or professional body whether this award meets its current entry requirements. Do this before enrolling if you need the diploma for a specific goal. Completion does not guarantee a job or study place.
YOUR NEXT STEP IN EARLY YEARS
Why Study with HHF Training?
Discuss your goal, learning needs and practical setting with HHF before starting. Plan your early years portfolio assessment around real opportunities in your role.
Learn more about HHF Training and read our learner FAQs before enrolling.
Advice Before Enrolment
Discuss your role, placement and learning needs before paying.
Practical Study Planning
Plan learning and portfolio evidence around opportunities 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 Highfield Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educators (England) (RQF). Its number is 610/4238/9. Use the Ofqual verification button to check the official record.
No. Learning can be supported online, but you must show practical skills in a suitable early years setting. The current Highfield specification sets no fixed minimum placement hours. You still need enough workplace evidence to meet all criteria. Agree arrangements with HHF before enrolling.
Build a portfolio that shows knowledge and practical skills. HHF assesses and quality checks your evidence, with external quality support from Highfield. Your assessor explains the methods and activities needed for each criterion.
Highfield identifies the diploma 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 required. Passing the diploma does not replace those other conditions.
The qualification has 625 Total Qualification Time hours, including 379 Guided Learning Hours. These are learning-time figures, not a fixed course duration. Agree a plan with HHF based on your starting skills, study time and workplace evidence opportunities.
Highfield does not list a Level 2 Early Years diploma as compulsory. Entry is approved from age 16, with Level 2 English and maths advised. HHF reviews your readiness and practical access. A Level 2 award can help you prepare, but prior learning must be checked before it can count.