- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 7
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- HNC
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 1 year (August to June)
Applications open 15th January 2025
HNC Childhood Practice is a nationally recognised professional qualification for people who want to work within the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector. The course is a Next Generation qualification pilot course. If you successfully complete this course you will achieve practitioner status.
This course provides you with an integrated programme of theory and practice that will help you develop an understanding of the different care, learning and development needs of children and young people.
What will I learn?
You will have the opportunity to apply your learning to an early learning and childcare context while on practical training placement with children in an ELC setting. This will enable you to develop an understanding of your professional role in relation to the SSSC codes of practice and national care standards for the day care of children.
The HNC Childhood Practice consists of 12 credits of mandatory core, optional and practical units of learning. You will also undertake a practical training placement in an ELC setting which will enable you to complete three units of the SVQ 3 Social Services: Children and Young People.
Some of the subjects you will study may include:
- Health, safeguarding, welfare and rights
- Pedagogy in practice
- Developing reflective practice
*Successful attainment of all 12 credits is essential for certification of the HNC Group Award.
Entry requirements (minimum)
For this level of course, you should be qualified to SCQF Level 6 (or equivalent) including English or Communication in one of the following areas:
- NC Early Education and Childcare; OR
- SVQ level 2 Children’s Care Learning and Development; OR
- SVQ Level 2 Social Services (Children and Young People); OR
- SVQ Level 2 Playwork; OR
- Foundation Apprenticeship in Social Services: Children and Young People.
- Direct entrants with other qualifications such as two Highers at C grade or above, including English, or equivalent, and significant/relevant experience, or PDA Education Support Assistance with significant/relevant experience may also apply.
All applicants must have significant experience of working with children in a voluntary or paid capacity.
Please note that places on this course may be limited due to the number of internal candidates progressing to the next level of study.
You will be required to enter the PVG scheme administered by Disclosure Scotland. This check will be carried out before undertaking work experience. If you have offences that may be recorded on a Disclosure Scotland check, you should discuss this with staff at interview.
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.
Jobs and further study
After successful completion of this course, you will be eligible for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as a Practitioner.
Successful learners have progressed to employment as Child Development Officers working for local authorities, education partnership institutions and private childcare settings.
You may also progress to further study including:
- Year 2 HND Additional Support Needs: Supporting and Managing Learning Needs at Glasgow Clyde College
- 2nd Year BA Childhood Practice at University of the West of Scotland
- 1st Year BA Childhood Practice at University of Strathclyde
- Year 2 Diploma in Education and Social Services
- 1st Year BEd (Hons) Primary Education at University of Strathclyde, University of Glasgow, University of the West of Scotland or BA Primary Education at Stirling University (you would require additional qualifications in English and Maths to be considered for this course)
- SVQ Level 4 Social Services (Children and Young People).
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:
- Invited to book an interview session. Interviews will table place from February. You should bring evidence of any qualifications and an academic reference to the interview. During the interview you will receive more information about the course and the College and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. This course involves a placement element which requires that all successful applicants enter the PVG scheme administered by Disclosure Scotland. Both the placement and the PVG check will be organised (and PVG costs met) by the College. This check will be carried out before undertaking work experience. Any applicant who has offences that may be recorded on a Disclosure Scotland check should discuss this with staff at interview.
- 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. Please note that if a place is unavailable at your campus of first choice, you may be offered a place at one of our other campuses and you must respond to this within the timescale above. 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.