Undergraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care
Undergraduate Diploma
Early Childhood Education and Care
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Course Description
In recent years, the importance of Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Malta has gained recognition. ECE is now increasingly acknowledged as providing crucial foundations for lifelong learning. There is also growing recognition that those working in ECE must have the appropriate competences, knowledge, and skills, attitudes and characteristics on how to enable them to support early learning and development.
The course has been designed for those who are about to embark on the journey of ECE and Care as well as more experienced practitioners who would like to develop their practice while following an accredited course for childcare educators. The course provides learners with a sound understanding of how to provide and foster quality education within ECE settings (childcare settings) in Malta.
In doing so, the course paves the way for practitioners to be fully competent and confident to work with young children in childcare education. During the course, the students will be introduced to multimodal ways of approaching the field, various pedagogical tools, ways how to collaborate with other stakeholders, assessment strategies, ways of documenting young children’s learning and collaborating with other stakeholders.
Entry Requirements
Candidates who apply for this course will possess:
- A qualification at MQF level 4 and SEC/Ordinary Level passes in Mathematics, English, and Maltese.
- In the case of students who do not possess all the formal required academic qualifications, then the RPL process could be applied such that if evidence of equivalent learning, related to the area of study of this programme, is found then the applicant could still be accepted in the course. Such RPL process will subject applicants to an interview held with a board of experts within the field, chosen specifically by IDEA College, so as to verify their experiences and prior learning.
IDEA College’s RPL policy can be accessed through this link
Target Audience
This programme has the following target groups:
- Individuals who are approaching the field of Early Childhood Education.
- Individuals looking to work in the capacity of childcare educators.
Career Paths
This programme aims to equip the target audience with the knowledge, skills and competences listed.
The possible posts that this course prepares for: Childcare educator.
Modules
You are required to complete all 9 compulsory modules (60 ECTS)
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Undergraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care
How you’ll be assessed
The course comprises:
- Evening classes for part-time courses.
- Classes held throughout the day for full-time courses.
- Guided learning, presentations, comprising synchronous online discussions, tutorials and/or videos.
- Self-study hours comprising research, reading and assignment work.
Assessment
Assessment is carried out via two mandatory components:
- Modular Assessment
- Summative Assessment
The programme includes different forms of assessment which allow for and promote students’ critical engagement. The formative and summative assessment tasks may include an in-class assignment and/or a home-based written assignment using diverse assessment tools which may take the form of online and in-class discussions, examinations, case studies, reports, proposals, essays, and presentations, etc., as applicable to the diverse modules.
Course Intake Dates
TBA 2025
Learning Outcomes
For Knowledge:
The learner will be able to:
- Analyse the roots and development of ECE and Care in Malta (Module 1)
- Manage key milestones in child development (Module 2)
- Formulate an understanding of how to allow space for children’s voices within ECE and Care settings (Module 3)
- Enable an understanding of the main elements of collaborative practices in ECE and Care (Module 4)
- Become a childcare practitioner who is aware of creative processes (Module 5)
- Analyse several documents and tools which support an ECE practitioner when designing teaching and learning in ECE and Care settings (Module 6)
- Prepare and present a learning environment which is culturally responsive and which allows for multicultural education to take place (Module 7)
- Enable an understanding of the core elements of enabling healthy, safe, and secure environments for young children (Module 8)
- Contribute to the wellbeing of children and staff (Module 8). · Observe and begin to understand the role of young children during their professional experience (Module 9)
For Skills:
The learner will be able to:
- Apply the canonical theories of ECE and Care (Module 1).
- Promote healthy and holistic child development in ECE and Care (Module 2)
- Promote and extend young children’s rights to participate in various settings (Module 3)
- Communicate more effectively with peers and stakeholders (e.g., children, parents, family members, managers, teachers, etc.) within the ECE and Care setting (Module 4)
- Be an active promoter of and nurture creative awareness and expression in ECE and Care settings and evaluate ways how this can be achieved (Module 5)
- Produce documentation based on careful observation of young children (Module 6)
- Make use of the right tools to conduct research relating to the everchanging multicultural and inclusive education (Module 7)
- Collaborate in securing healthy, safe, secure, and positive spaces within ECE and Care settings (Module 8)
- Document basic reflections and potential self-recommendations after their first professional experience (Module 9)
For Knowledge:
The learner will be able to:
- Gain an overall perspective of Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Care on an international, European, and local level (Module 1)
- Discuss and consolidate knowledge with regards to the various areas of development (physical, cognitive, emotional, linguistic, social) of young children (Module 2)
- Critically discuss the importance of concepts such as voice, participation, and agency in childhood (Module 3)
- Assess the role of the main stakeholders in ECE and Care and explore ways how to collaborate with such stakeholders (Module 4)
- Assess how different elements (such as play, physical education, etc.) can contribute to creative expression in ECE and Care (Module 5)
- Navigate the various pedagogical tools and documentation which are made use of within ECE and Care (Module 6)
- Explore ways how to promote inclusivity and diversity in ECE and Care contexts (Module 7)
- Identify the core elements for healthy, safe and secure environments in ECE and Care (Module 8)
- Gain knowledge relating to the core funtions of a childcare setting and one’s own responsabilities (Module 9)
