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Adults

Early Years Education

Studies show the most rapid period of brain development is from birth to age eight. You get to teach stuff that a child could carry with them for the rest of their life. You become a big part of their growing up – encouraging them to explore, play and create.

There will always be the need for education as it is a field that is constantly growing with options beyond a single career path. Now, you just need to take the first steps.

Next Event

October Open Event

West Lancashire College Monday 13th October 2025 4:30pm - 7:00pm Find out more

An Introduction To Neuroscience In Early Years Level 2

The Neuroscience in Early Years course is designed to give students a gentle introduction to the subject and to share the remarkable insights it has provided us, in terms of how the infant brain develops and how this is affected by a range of external influences.

Length: 12 Weeks
Study: Online Learning
Location: Online

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Caring for Children and Young People Level 2

This course will teach you how to protect children and young people from various unsafe situations.

Length: 12 Weeks
Study: Online Learning
Location: Online

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Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning Difficulties Level 2

This is a fantastic 12-week course for anyone working with individuals who have learning disabilities.

Length: 12 Weeks
Study: Online Learning
Location: Online

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Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences Level 2

This course will allow students to learn about the challenges in which children face within their lives and how to support them during this time.

Length: 12 Weeks
Study: Online Learning
Location: Online

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Understanding Autism Level 2

If you work with autistic people, or if someone you know is autistic, this course is a great way to increase your knowledge about the condition.

Length: 12 Weeks
Study: Online Learning
Location: Online

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Understanding Autism Level 3

The Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Autism is designed for learners who want to increase their knowledge and understanding of the condition and the challenges and strengths that autistic people may experience.

Length: 16 Weeks
Study: Online Learning
Location: Online

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Understanding Children and Young People's Mental Health Level 2

The Level 2 online course in Understanding Children and Young People's Mental Health will enable you to protect children

Length: 12 Weeks
Study: Online Learning
Location: Online

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Understanding Safeguarding and Prevent Level 2

The purpose of this qualification is to support anyone who is responsible for the safeguarding of people and for helping to prevent radicalisation

Length: 12 Weeks
Study: Online Learning
Location: Online

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Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties Level 2

If you're looking to improve your understanding and awareness of learning difficulties, this is the ideal course for you.

Length: 12 Weeks
Study: Online Learning
Location: Online

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Kerri Clarke

Early Years Education Lecturer

I have great enthusiasm and passion for the Early Years Sector. I have a wealth of first-hand experience that can be passed down to our current students to enable them to succeed as an Early Years Practitioner.

Mell Watkins

Early Years Education Lecturer

I have worked at West Lancashire college since March 2010 and I’ve been a part of the Early Years and Education sector for many years. I gain great satisfaction in teaching our students and equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to succeed and reach their full potential. I feel privileged to be able to meet such wonderful students and be part of their learning journey, it is incredible to observe how they grow and develop into competent Early Years and Education practitioners.

Megan Hall

Early Years Education Lecturer

I joined West Lancashire College in August 2024, with a strong passion to teach after being influenced by my own growing up. I studied Primary Education Early Years with QTS at Edge Hill University and specialised in Early Years. I embarked on a range of modules from birth to 7 year olds, as well as a SEND placement.

Ben

Early Years Practitioner Alumni Student

I chose West Lancashire College because it offered the course I wanted to take and is my local college. I have gained so much work experience on my programme and I am currently on placement at St Richard’s Primary School, which I love. My tutors are beyond amazing and have been so supportive. After I complete my course, I want to go on to study a BA in Primary Education with QTS.

Jess

Early Years Education Alumni Student

I chose West Lancashire College as it offered the course I wanted to take and was also my local college. I gained so much work experience on my programme and I really enjoyed my placement at St Richard’s Primary School. My tutors, Mell and Kerrie were beyond amazing and were so supportive. I have progressed onto studying Primary Education with QTS at Edge Hill University.

Caitlin

T Level Early Years Alumni Student

I chose to study the T Level Early Years Education course because I’ve always had a passion for working in the childcare sector. I have really enjoyed my placement as I’ve been able to put knowledge that I’ve learnt in college into practice.

Maddison

T Level Early Years Alumni Student

I chose to study the T Level Early Years Education course because I want to become a nursery teacher to help them develop. I’ve enjoyed my placement and the JJ Effect guest speaker was very inspirational.

Aimee

T Level Early Years Alumni Student

I chose to study the T Level Early Years Education course because I have an interest in the industry and really enjoyed my Year 10 placement in a nursery. I’ve loved the enrichment and creative activities.

Tia

T Level Early Years Alumni Student

I chose to study the T Level Early Years Education course because I would like to work with children in the future, either in a nursery or being a childminder/nanny. I enjoyed my placement as I find the practical side to be extremely fun and interesting.

Daily tasks:

Assists with or plans and develops curriculum and rota of teaching duties.
Discusses progress with student, parents and/or other education professionals.
Supervises teaching assistants and trainees.
Undertakes pastoral duties.
Teaches simple songs and rhymes, reads stories and organises various activities to promote language, social and physical development.
Supervises students and maintains classroom discipline.
Maintains records of students.
Prepares students for external examinations and administers and invigilates these examinations.
Prepares, assigns and corrects exercises and examinations to record and evaluate students.
Prepares and delivers courses and lessons in accordance with curriculum requirements and teaches a range of subjects.

Median Salary

£34,504 View more

Daily tasks:

Discusses student.
Updates and maintains students.
Liaises with other professionals, such as social workers, speech and language therapists and educational psychologists.
Supervises students in classroom and maintains discipline.
Prepares, assigns and corrects exercises to record and evaluate students progress.
Encourages the student to develop self-help skills to circumvent the limitations imposed by their disability.
Develops and adapts conventional teaching methods to meet the individual student.
Gives instruction, using techniques appropriate to the student.
Assesses student.
Creates a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment for students.

Median Salary

£30,421 View more

Daily tasks:

Coordinates and maintains quality assurance procedures.
Assists with recruitment, public relations and marketing activities.
Arranges for the preparation and publication of syllabuses and other official documents.
Organises examinations, necessary invigilations and any security procedures required.
Drafts and interprets regulations and deals with queries and complaints procedures.
Acts as secretary to statutory and other bodies/committees associated with the educational establishment.
Controls administrative aspects of student admission, registration and graduation.
Leads or contributes to decision making processes regarding curricula, budgetary, disciplinary and other matters.
Provides administrative support to the academic team.
Arranges for evaluation of management, accounting, information storage and retrieval and other facilities.

Median Salary

£57,840 View more

Daily tasks:

Communicates with parents and colleagues on children.
Writes reports on children.
Reads stories, organises counting games to help develop language and number skills.
Plans and organises games and other activities and supervises children.
Supervises young children at mealtimes.
Baths, dresses, prepares feed for and feeds babies, changes babies clothing whenever necessary.

Median Salary

£14,634 View more

Daily tasks:

Complies with regulations set by OFSTED and their inspection requirements.
Maintains appropriate records of children.
Takes older children to and from school.
Takes children to participate in play groups or on appropriate outings.
Provides, supervises and participates in children.
Mends, washes and irons children.
Plans, prepares and serves children.
Changes babies.
Assists children to wash and dress.

Median Salary

£16,145 View more

Daily tasks:

Liaises with parents, carers and colleagues and keeps appropriate records.
Puts away equipment and cleans premises after use.
Organises and supervises children.
Organises and supervises children on excursions.
Encourages children.
Provides play areas and prepares materials for a wide range of children.
Supervises children.

Median Salary

£6,180 View more

Daily tasks:

Helps with outings and other out-of-classroom activities.
Makes simple teaching aids and constructs thematic displays of educational material or children.
Assists children with washing or dressing for outdoor and similar activities.
Listens to children read, reads to them or tells stories.
Looks after lesson materials such as paper, pencils and crayons.
Assists teacher with preparation or clearing up of classroom.

Median Salary

£14,187 View more

Daily tasks:

Provides feedback to teachers and completes and maintains records.
Attends to child.
Helps and encourages child to communicate.
Implements care programmes, as appropriate.
Identifies signs of distress and offers reassurance.
Helps child understand instruction through a variety of means and encourages self-confidence and independence.
Supports schoolwork under teacher.

Median Salary

£13,755 View more

Daily tasks:

Directs children to cross the road when safe.
Signals approaching traffic to stop by using hand signals and school crossing signs.
Waits for a safe gap in traffic and walks to the centre of road.
Meets children wanting to cross the road and directs them to wait at the kerb.
Assists young children with feeding, dressing, washing and toiletry activities.
Cares for sick children and administers first aid if necessary.
Supervises the playground activities of children during meal and break times.