Qualification Providing Early Support for Children

Agored Cymru level 4 Award Providing Early Support for Children with

Additional Needs and their Families (Wales) (QCF)

QUALIFICATION SUMMARY

The Agored Cymru Level 4 Award: Providing Early Support for Children with Additional Needs and their Families designed for people working with disabled children and children with additional learning needs as well as families with a child with additional needs and/or disabilities. 

This Award will: 

• support and maintain a high quality and skilled Welsh workforce.
• help parents/carers to become more confident in supporting their child and in working with the many practitioners they meet.
• Help practitioners develop their settings and their practice to become more inclusive for children with additional needs and disabilities.

It comprises one mandatory unit and provides a progression route to the Children’s Care, Learning and Development (CCLD) Diplomas at Level Three and Level Four.

The Award meets the requirements of the following policies and strategies

• Together from the Start: Practical guidance for professionals working with disabled children (birth to third birthday) and their families (2003) DfES and DoH      
• The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) 2009 policy agenda ‘We are on the way: A Policy Agenda to Transform the Lives of Disabled Children and Young People 
• The Children Act 1989/Children’s Act 2004
• The Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005
• UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)       
• Children and Young People: Rights to Action (2004) WAG
• National Service Framework for children, young people and maternity services in Wales 2005 (WAG)
• We are on the way: A policy agenda to transform the lives of disabled children and young people (2009) WAG
• The Foundation Phase (2008) WAG
• The Childcare Strategy for Wales: Childcare is for Children (2005) WAG   
• The Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) strategic action plan for Wales (2008) WAG
• Consultation  2010: Proposals for a Rights of the Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure
• Wales, a Learning Country (2002)
• Skills that Work for Wales (2008)

QUALIFICATION TARGET GROUP

The Level 4 Award in Providing Early Support for Children with Additional Needs and their Families relates to all practitioners who work to support families with a disabled child or a child with additional needs. It is also aimed at parents of disabled children and children with additional needs who feel they would like to gain more knowledge, skills and understanding about work with their child. 

 This Award does not provide a ‘licence to practice’.

 The roles of learners who might undertake this qualification are varied, but some examples are:

•  Advisory teachers
• Allied health professionals (e.g. occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech & language therapists)
• ALNCOs/SENCOs
• Children’s Centre workers
• Teachers
• Foster carers
• Health visitors
• Key workers
• Managers of any of the workers
• Nursery workers
• Parents and carers 
• Play workers
• Portageworkers
• Registered children’s nurses
• Social workers
• Specialist teachers (e.g. teachers of hearing or visually impaired children)
• Teaching assistants 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Learners will usually have experience of living with, or caring for, a child with a disability or additional needs

 Learners must be a minimum of 16 years of age to undertake the qualification

 Recognised Centres must notify Agored Cymru of their intention to deliver the qualification and have received a qualification information and/or briefing before delivery.

 Failure to notify Agored Cymru prior to the start of delivery may jeopardise the award of the qualification.

 DELIVERY LANGUAGES

 This qualification is available in English and Welsh. If this qualification is required in other Languages, please contact the Business Development team at Agored Cymru

 GUIDED LEARNING HOURS

 The guided learning hours specified for this qualification by Skills for Care and Development are 45.

 STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THE QUALIFICATION

 The qualification comprises one mandatory unit with 5 learning outcomes.

 OFFERING THE QUALIFICATION

This qualification is only available for use through Agored Cymru Recognised Centres. For further information about either becoming a recognised centre or working in partnership with a recognised centre, please access the Join Us area of the website or contact a member of the Business Development Team.