Childcare
& Early Years

Nursery, Primary School or Social Care, our courses will allow you to enter a variety of roles.

Careers centred around early childhood development can be particularly rewarding, and our professionally-recognised courses give you the skills, knowledge and experience to make a real difference in this industry. From working in nurseries to being a social worker, employment opportunities in childcare have never been better!

Browse Courses...

CACHE Caring for Children Entry Level 3
Study Area: 16-18 Duration: 1 Year (Certificate) or 6 Months (Award) Attendance: Full Time
Children, Young People and Families Manager Level 5
Study Area: Apprenticeships Duration: 2 Years to 2.5 Years Attendance: Part Time
Caring for Children Level 1
Study Area: 16-18 Duration: 1 Year Attendance: Full Time
Level 1 Award in Introduction to Early Years Settings (ESOL)
Study Area: 19+ Duration: 12 Weeks Attendance: Part Time
Childcare (January) Level 2
Study Area: 16-18 Duration: 22 Weeks Attendance: Full Time
Forest Schools Assistant Level 2
Study Area: 19+ Duration: 18 Weeks Attendance: Part Time
Early Years Practitioner Level 2
Study Area: 16-18 Duration: 1 Year Attendance: Full Time
T Level transition Programme Education & Childcare Level 2
Study Area: 16-18 Duration: 1 Year Attendance: Full Time
Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools Level 3
Study Area: 19+ Duration: 1 Year Attendance: Part Time
Principles of Special Educational Needs Level 3
Study Area: 19+ Duration: 15 Weeks Attendance: Part Time
Understanding Autism Level 3
Study Area: 19+ Duration: 20 Weeks Attendance: Part Time
Early Years Educator – Level 3 Apprenticeship
Study Area: Apprenticeships Duration: 15 – 18 months Attendance: Part Time
Why study Childcare & Early Years?

Our industry-experienced tutors make learning fun as well as fascinating.

You’ll enjoy excellent College facilities, such as our demo nursery room, to ensure your learning is varied and not confined to a classroom.

We’ll make sure you gain relevant work experience during your time at College, to boost your CV and improve your chances of employment after.

This is a professional qualification that future employers will favour.

Which level is best for you?

Calderdale College has a set of standard entry requirements. Apply for the course you want to study and we will help you get there.

There are a lot of courses available – work focused, practical and academic so it is important to think about the future and whether you want to proceed to university, move onto another course or get a job. We offer BTECs, ApprenticeshipsT Levels, NVQs, VRQs, Degree Level Courses and more.

If you’re still not sure, don’t worry. You can speak to a member of our advice and guidance team who will give you their best advice!

What will I study?

Whether you choose to study Childcare & Education, Working with Children in an Early Years and Primary Setting, or one of our other Childcare and Early Years courses, you will cover a range of units within your chosen course. There’s something for everyone!

Example Modules
Some example modules include:

Course Pages
Each individual course page contains information on the modules of study, but if you have any questions we are on hand to help.

Contact our Advice and Guidance team on 01422 399267 or email [email protected] for more info.

We'll give you the qualifications you need to work in this rewarding and exciting industry, giving you the chance to influence and shape young lives!

  • Nursery Worker

    Up to £24k
  • Early Childhood Educator (ECE)

    Up to £30k
  • Child Care Leader

    Up to £27k
Do you…

Have a caring nature which can be adapted to support young people and those with special needs?

Are you…

Interested in working in a nursery, primary school, children’s centre or social care environment?

Are you…

Ready to start a career where you will make a difference in many young people’s lives?

Do you…

Love working with children and young people?

Need help with your application?

Request a call back and we'll talk you through it.

Request a Call Back

Get your fresh Starbucks at our Inspire Café

Located in the Inspire Centre, our Inspire Café sells Starbucks beverages plus a range of sandwiches and snacks. It is open to students, staff and visitors to the Inspire Centre.

Where to find us
The Inspire Café can be found in the Inspire Centre, at our campus on Francis Street, Halifax.

Food and drink available
Within the café you can find a range of sandwiches, paninis, cold drinks and Starbucks beverages, plus a range of other snacks.

Loyalty card
We offer an Inspire Café loyalty card, for every Starbucks drink you purchase you will be given a stamp and once you have collected 8 stamps you will get a free drink on us!

G Floor

If our Digital Skills and Media students are not in DigiHub they may find themselves on our top floor. 

This is also home to our Business suite and many Apprentices will spend their college hours here with 1 to 1s or group sessions.

Home to:
  • Digital Skills & Media
  • Business & Enterprise
  • Apprenticeships
F Floor

Our University Centre is located on F Floor and is home to all Higher Education students and staff. 

Home to:

  • University Centre
  • Professional Studies
  • Teacher Education
  • Access to HE
  • Curriculum Support
  • Skills for Life
E Floor

This is home to our Health and Social Care Students.

Here you will find a dentistry room with working chair and tools, a pharmacy, a hospital room and nursery style classroom for Childcare students.

Home to:

  • Health & Social Care
  • Early Years & Childhood Professions
  • Dental Nursing
D Floor

D Floor is home to our student run D Cafe.

Run by Employability and Life Skills students, the cafe provides them with skills for the future as well as providing you with a nice coffee and cake. 

Home to:

  • Maths and English
  • Employability & Life Skills
  • D Cafe
  • ESOL
  • Job Centre Plus
C Floor

Our business support, executive suite and meeting rooms are all found on C floor. This floor is restricted for student entry unless permission is granted. 

Home to:

  • Business Support
  • Executive Suite
  • Meeting Rooms
  • External Funding
B Floor

Here you will find The Full Works Salon, a hair and beauty salon run by staff and students; with affordable treatments for you and your friends.

One of our two Learning Centres is also on B Floor and has plenty of PCs for drop-in use as well as bookable rooms for collaboration and quiet study.

Home to:

  • Full Works Salon
  • Hair & Beauty
  • Multi Faith Room
  • 14-16 Suite
  • Students Union
  • Learning Centre
A Floor

A Floor is home to our state-of-the-art DigiHub and Trade Academy. Our Digital Skills, Computing and Media students will spend a lot of their time here in the music studio, photography studio or iMac Suite.

Students of our construction courses will find our Brickwork, Carpentry and Joinery workshops. You will also find Cuisine 1893, our very own restaurant standard kitchen, where our hospitality and catering students will train. 

Home to:

  • Reception
  • Cuisine 1893
  • DigiHub
  • Enrolment Suite
  • Learner Services
  • Trade Academy
Inspire Centre

The Inspire Centre is home to our Sport students. With a fitness suite, rock climbing wall, sports hall and outdoor pitches there’s plenty of opportunities to get stuck into a new sport or fitness regime.

The Inspire Centre also hosts our second Learning Centre and our Animal Care students will also find their animals in the various classrooms dedicated to them, or in the outdoor hutches. Facilities for our Public Services, Outdoor Education, Electrical, Plumbing and Engineering courses are also found in the Inspire Centre. Plus you can grab a coffee from Starbucks on your way out!

Home to:

  • Sports & Fitness
  • Animal Care
  • Learning Centre
  • Outdoor Pitches

We may look a little different!

You might have noticed we recently made some changes to the look of our website but don’t worry you can still find all the courses and information you need!

Here are some quick links below