Course details

Summary

Interested in working with infants toddlers or young children? Study UCOL's New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care.

UCOL's New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care will provide you with the opportunity pathway into a rewarding career caring for infants, toddlers and young children.

Career & Study Outcomes

Graduates of UCOL's New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care will be able to:

understand key early childhood socio-cultural theories of learning and development to inform and guide the holistic development and learning of children in an early childhood setting;
use knowledge of multiculturalism, family diversity, and the bicultural nature of the New Zealand early childhood curriculum framework, Te Whāriki, to plan, provide and review enriching learning experiences for infants, toddlers, and young children;
contribute to providing a culturally inclusive early childhood environment to foster the health, holistic well-being, and care of infants, toddlers, and young children;
communicate effectively and engage in respectful, reciprocal, and responsive relationships within an early childhood education and care community;
implement strategies to manage personal health, wellbeing, and professional development in an early childhood setting;
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of legislation and regulatory requirements, and how community and government services impact on early childhood settings and guide practices, to protect and support the wellbeing of children and families;
understand the diverse philosophical and cultural contexts and approaches informing early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand to develop a personal philosophy of practice;
implement bicultural early childhood education practice and promote awareness of 毛利 as tangata whenua, through using te reo 毛利 and tikanga 毛利 with infants, toddlers, young children and families/whānau in early childhood settings.

Education pathway

Graduates who wish to further specialise can enrol in:
Bachelor of Teaching (ECE)
Employment opportunities include working in a range of early childhood education settings as educators (teachers), Kaimahi, support workers, session leaders or organisers in parent-led services or playgroups including Pasifika and 毛利.

Course Information

UCOL's New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care covers the following topics:

Learning and Development Theories
Culture and Identity
Professional and Ethical Principles and Practices
Early Childhood Practicum

Accreditation

The programme is approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority under the provisions of the Education Act 1989, and Universal College of Learning (UCOL) Trading as Universal College of Learning (UCOL) is accredited to teach it.

Entry criteria

NCEA Level 2; OR

the New Zealand/National Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3) OR

equivalent academic achievement on a case-by-case basis; OR

at the discretion of the Executive Dean.

International student applicants whose first language is not English must have an IELTS (or equivalent, including TOEFL) score of 5.5 with no band lower than 5.