- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 5
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 18 weeks (August - January)
Applications open 15th January 2025
Access to Early Learning and Childcare will develop the initial knowledge, skills and understanding you require to work towards a career in childcare. This course is an introduction to early learning and childcare and combines a mixture of theory and practical activities. The course will allow you to develop practical skills and to build the foundation of knowledge required to work with children.
What will I learn?
Your studies will give you an introduction to the skills and knowledge required to establish good practice in childcare. You'll have the opportunity to undertake national units at SCQF Level 5 over 18 weeks. With further study, this course provides a good grounding for employment in childcare and related areas.
Access to Early Learning and Childcare contains a mix of theoretical and practical units which will support developing knowledge and skills. Some of the subjects you will study may include:
- Child development
- Play in early learning and childcare
- Contemporary families
- Working with others.
Please note that this course does not include a practical training placement.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- Three National 4 qualifications, or equivalent, one of which should be English
- Please ensure you complete the personal statement section of the application form, providing details about why you want to study this course and any relevant experience you have.
- Applications are also invited from those who have relevant life and/or work experience.
Entry requirement equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
This course provides the opportunity to start a career path in childcare. This entry-level qualification provides some of the basic practice, skills and knowledge required for progression to qualifications that can be recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) for registration.
Jobs and further study
This course provides the opportunity to start a career path in childcare. This entry-level qualification provides some of the basic practice, skills and knowledge required for progression to qualifications that can be recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) for registration.
The course is offered as a first step towards employment within the childcare sector or to further study on Level 6 Childcare courses at Glasgow Clyde College.
- Introduction to Early Learning and Childcare (Level 6) (starting in January)
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview session. You may be required to submit a reference from an employer or a previous education establishment.
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in June / July.