QQI Level 5 Childcare Course

This Level 5 Childcare Course Online Certificate is designed with Early Years Educators, and the children they will engage with in mind. The aim of the programme is to enable learners to develop the knowledge, skills, and competence to work as an Early Years Educator, promoting and supporting the holistic needs of children from 0 to six years within the Early Learning and Care environment.

This programme leads to a Certificate in Early Learning and Care at NFQ level 5 and is designed to meet the QQI professional award standards for Early Learning and Care at NFQ level 5.

The programme comprises of 6 mandatory modules, enabling the learner to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies required to work independently and as part of a team, to provide a quality Early Learning and Care environment.

The focus is on promoting the holistic wellbeing, development and learning of children from 0 to six years across a range of Early Learning and Care settings. The programme offers a balance of theory and practice, and professional practice placement is integral to the teaching and learning. Learners who successfully complete the QQI level 5 Childcare (Early Learning and Care programme) will have opportunities to progress into the workplace or into further and higher education.

Course Structure

3 x 12 week terms
The QQI level 5 childcare (Early Learning and Care) course will consist of 3 terms, each term will be 12 weeks in duration, you will need to complete 2 modules during each term. There will be a break of 1 month in between each term.

In house days
2 mandatory face to face classroom days are required
Available in Cork, Dublin or Galway throughout the year
Will be scheduled on weekends, 3.5 hours in duration

Who should enrol?
The Level 5 Childcare course will cater for a variety of adult learners ranging from school leavers with no previous experience in the ECCE sector to more mature adults with relevant life or work experience. Some of the latter will have previously had some education and training in childcare. More mature adults will frequently be seeking new career opportunities, be working in the home or currently working in the childcare sector. These will tend to opt for the part-time learning route to achieving the award. The course will be open to both male and female learners.

Work Experience
To successfully complete the programme, you will be required to spend 150 hours, in two early learning and care settings, divided as follows:

You must spend a minimum of 50 hours working with children between the ages of 0 – 2.8 years.
You must spend a minimum of 50 hours working with children between the ages of 2.8 – 6 years.
You can spend the remaining 50 hours working with children across both age groups, however you must spend a minimum of 30 hours in the second service.

Course Cost

If you pay in full the cost of the QQI Level 5 Childcare (Early Learning and Care) course is €1295, also easy pay instalments available, see below.

Option 1:

Chevron instalments plan: 8 consecutive monthly instalments of €188 each month

Option 2:

Flexi Finance by Humm: 12 consecutive monthly instalments of €110 each month (finance loan agreement)