To enrol in the Early Learning and Care program, you should have at least an Ordinary Level Leaving Certificate or an equivalent level of education or experience.

If English is not your first language, or if you have not been primarily educated in English, you will need to demonstrate a suitable level of English proficiency before starting the program.

This means achieving an English level equivalent to an IELTS score of 5.5 or another recognised international English language test. You will be required to provide evidence of your English proficiency as part of the application process.

Week 1: Student given access to the MOODLE page to begin their studies. There will be a recorded lecture for them to review. (1 Hour) Tutor support via email

Week 2: (2/2.5 hours) – Webinar – including overview of the module, overview of how the blended programme works and assessment criteria etc.

Week 3: (1 Hour) tutor support via Live Session on TEAMS.

Week 4: (1 Hour) Recorded lecture. Learners will also be directed to read specific units in their course notes.

Week 5: (2/2.5 hours) – Webinar – Review of course material. The webinar can be a lecture, a guided discussion or focused on a specific concept.

Week 6: (1 Hour) – tutor support via Email – Study week for students & tutor support, 1 hour for Q&A, assessment questions, additional information etc.

*Academic Admin/Tutor will load any relevant module course material and the recordings of the Live Webinars

*Course content is subject to review after each intake and may be updated in line with industry standards.

Continous assessment – Deadlines will be in place to submit your assignments.

Certificate in Early Learning and Care QQI Level 5

Work Placement is an integral part of the programme and specifically required as part of the Professional Award Standards. For Level 5 programme, learner’s will be required to spend 150 hours, in two early learning and care settings, divided as follows:

• Learner’s must spend a minimum of 50 hours working with children between the ages of 0 – 2.8 years
• Learner’s must spend a minimum of 50 hours working with children between the ages of 2.8 – 6 years
• Learners 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.

You will need the following to complete our Level 5 Early Learning and Care course:

• A PC with Windows 8 or later or a Mac with OSX 10.5 or later.
• An internet connection with a speed of at least 10mbps.
• The latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari, set to accept cookies and pop-ups.
• Adobe Reader, to view content.
• Word processing software, such as MS Word or Google Docs.
• Some courses include video, therefore your computer must be capable of playing video and sound.

Garda Vetting is a legal requirement under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 for the vetting of persons carrying out work with children or vulnerable persons.

Students can request an appointment at the college by email from the start of the course to begin the Garda vetting application process. An appointment will then be arranged for you to complete the Garda vetting process at the college.

However, if you have recently completed a Garda vetting application through your workplace and still need to complete your placement hours, you will need to apply for Garda vetting again.

If you find a placement setting that is willing to complete the Garda vetting application for you, there is no requirement to complete the Garda vetting process through the college.

Anyone who has lived outside Ireland and Northern Ireland for six consecutive months or more (aged 18 or older) must provide an official Police Clearance Certificate from each country they resided in.

We do not take care of any Police Clearance in the college, this will be required from your placement settings, not from us.

Formerly known as the ECCE course, this programme offers a pathway for those looking to advance into further and higher education in the field.

At City College Dublin, we prioritise flexible and accessible learning. As a student, you’ll have 24/7 access to our City College Dublin eLearning platform, Moodle, throughout your course. Moodle offers a wide range of resources, including detailed course manuals, live webinars, instructional videos, quizzes, and personalised tutor support.

The course is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring that you can easily navigate through the material. Additionally, students can submit their assessments online and receive feedback from their tutor through Moodle or via their secure assessment submission link which is accessible from any computer with an internet connection.

Now is a great time to get into this industry. Find out more about the changes in the 2025 Budget, and its impact on Early Learning and Care providers.