Childhood Practice HNC Childhood Practice (Practitioner Focus)

Course overview

The HNC Childhood Practice (Practitioner Focus) is for applicants interested in a career in the early education, childcare or playwork sectors or those wishing to pursue further study within Childhood Practice or Childhood Studies. The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) accepts this qualification for registration as a practitioner in the daycare of children service.

This is a nationally recognised qualification and valued award for people who want to work in various settings, supporting children and young people with varying needs.

The course will deepen understanding of working with children and young people. It helps you to integrate knowledge and theory into practice, including the importance of the Health and Social Care Standards and Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice.

This course will teach the importance of play to children's development, leadership skills, a thorough understanding of child development theories, strategies to support children with additional support needs, how to understand and support children's behaviour, contemporary family issues, collaborative working and the importance of health, wellbeing and safeguarding.

Take your next step towards changing your life and the lives of children.

If you would like to apply for this course, please consider the PVG scheme (completed by Edinburgh College once your place on the course is confirmed). This scheme helps protect children and adults within our sector; we require a clear PVG to enable you to proceed with an application for this course.  If you have any questions regarding this, please get in contact to discuss. 

On meeting the entry requirements, we will contact you to share the dates of our Information Sessions and Open Days and arrange an individual induction meeting (online or on campus) to discuss the course, and placement requirements and answer any questions you may have. We look forward to meeting you. 

What you will learn

During the course, you will learn values, skills and knowledge to enable you to support children and young people. This will include:

• Developing an understanding of the values and principles that underpin work in childhood practice settings
• Understanding how the Health and Social Care Standards and SSSC Codes of Practice inform working practices in the childhood practice sector
• Developing an understanding of the variety of childhood practice settings in the sector
• Developing skills appropriate for working with and supporting a wide range of individuals in childhood practice settings
• Have an individual and child-centred focus in your practice
• Learning how to ensure inclusion in everyday work practice
• Critically evaluate your practice and be a reflective practitioner
• Developing a good working knowledge of current legislation, policy and guidance
• We promote active learning and you will take part in activities in and out of the classroom

To help prepare you for your course and share further information we have created an online notice board. This will be regularly updated until the course starts in August.

Placement information

• You will gain valuable experience from a placement based in a childhood practice setting, working in any age group from birth to early primary school age.
• Your placement will be arranged by Edinburgh College via our placement coordinator, who has an extensive network of employers committed to hosting placements to increase career opportunities and jobs through the growth of skills and knowledge within the Childhood Practice sector.
• Your placement could be in a nursery, early years centre, school, play group, after-school club or an additional support needs setting.
• Placement is rewarding and gives invaluable experience to support the knowledge gained in college.
• Attendance is mandatory to get the professional practice you need to complete and pass the course. Between October 2025 and May 2026, you need to commit to attending 60 placement days, which are arranged with a starting block of four days to get to know your setting, followed by two days per week interwoven with three further blocks of four days in December, January and March.
• A PVG is required before starting your placement.

How the course is assessed

• You will be continually assessed through project work, essays, placement reflections and presentations.

Number of days per week

Full-time options: 

• Granton campus or Sighthill campus two days per week (Monday and Tuesday)
• You will also do two days per week on a work placement (Wednesday and Thursday)
• Friday is a study day, with no requirement to attend college. 

Entry requirements

• A minimum of two Highers at grade C or above, one of which should be English  
• Or pass in a relevant NC at SCQF Level 6 (including Communication or Academic Study Skills units at SCQF 6) or PDA Education Support Assistance or SVQ Level 2 Children’s Care Learning and Development/Social Services Children and Young People 
• Or a pass in the Foundation Apprenticeship  Social Services: Children and Young People plus Higher English
• Applicants should have some experience working in early learning or childcare settings in a paid or voluntary role
• Membership in the PVG scheme through Disclosure Scotland is required for this course
• You should upload copies of your qualifications to demonstrate that you meet the entry requirements

Writing a personal statement

Your personal statement is an important part of your application and it can help us to decide if you are suitable for the course.

To make sure that you are giving us all the information we need to consider your application fully, please include the following:

• Your reasons for applying for this course. Why does it interest you? Why are you suitable for this course?
• Details of any relevant qualifications that you have to meet the course entry requirements
• Information about any courses or training you have done that are relevant – this can include certificated training such as First Aid or CPD courses
• Details of any work experience (paid or voluntary) that is relevant to the course
• Your future career plans – how will this course help you to reach your goals?

You should check that the statement is written clearly, and using appropriate language. It’s a good idea to ask someone to proofread the statement before sending it.

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

• On meeting the entry requirements, we will contact you to share the dates of our Information Sessions and Open Days and will arrange an individual induction meeting (online or on campus) to discuss the course, and placement requirements and answer any questions you may have. 

English Proficiency Requirements

To enable our students the best opportunity of achieving this course, applicants for whom English is an additional language require an existing English language certificate at IELTS Level 6 or equivalent. Alternatively, additional language applicants will be required to undertake an English Language Assessment at College. There will be a cost of £20 for this test unless you are in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Disability Benefit or Income Support or if you are an asylum seeker or refugee.  English proficiency at IELTS Level 6 or equivalent is a course requirement.  If you would like any more information on this, please contact angie.thomson@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

Progression and Articulation Routes

• This course is intended to enable registration with the SSSC as a practitioner 
• Successful completion could enable progression to HND Childhood Practice, PDA Level 8 Childhood Practice or BA Childhood Practice
• Successful completion could enable progression to  BA (Hons) Education Studies (Primary), please check additional entry requirements
• To progress to these qualifications, the experience of working in a childcare setting is essential and there will also be a requirement to be working or on placement in a leadership role
• Successful students who have also achieved National 5 Biology and level 5 numeracy (or equivalent) are eligible to apply for the 3-year pre-registration Nursing programme (BN) at Edinburgh Napier University
• BA (Hons) Child and Youth Studies, year 2 entry at the University of the Highlands and Islands 
• BA (Hons) Childhood Practice, year 2 entry at the University of the Highlands and Islands  

Career options

• From this course, you can apply for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as a practitioner and go into employment within nurseries, playgroups, after-school clubs and other play schemes.
• Working in childhood practice has plenty of progression opportunities; each day can be different, full of variety and full of adventures.