Career Pathways

Career Pathways Tool

The Pathways careers data platform maps to numerous sources of reputable and high quality data from Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0, LMI for All, National Careers Service, O*NET, Graduate Outcomes, Adzuna, icould, HESA, Jisc and more.

Full details on where the 'Pathways' tool obtains its data can be found on the Pathways website.

Interested in a Career in Childcare or the Early Years Sector?

If you want to find out more about the careers available to those who choose to study Childcare or Early Years Education, you can chat to a member of our careers team.

Working with children can be the most rewarding job in the world. Each day you’re helping to develop their young minds and are making an important and lasting difference to their future

Childcare Courses

NCFE CACHE Level 2 Diploma for Children’s Care, Learning and Development Traineeship

Dungannon Enniskillen Omagh Apprenticeships Childcare Level 2 Full-Time

This qualification is designed to help learners build the knowledge and skills needed when working with children. It covers a diverse range of job roles and occupational areas working in a children’s setting. This qualification confirms competence in these areas and serves as the required qualification for all new practitioners for registration and regulatory requirements in Northern Ireland....

View NCFE CACHE Level 2 Diploma for Children’s Care, Learning and Development Traineeship

NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Childrens Care Learning and Development (Management) (NI) HLA

Dungannon Higher Education Childcare Level 5 Part-Time

A Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) offers a unique opportunity for individuals to combine academic study with practical workplace experience. Participants typically spend around four days a week working with their employer, gaining hands-on experience, while one day each week is dedicated to academic teaching at South West College. This structure allows for an effective balance between ...

View NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Childrens Care Learning and Development (Management) (NI) HLA

NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Childrens Care Learning and Development (Management) (NI)

Dungannon Higher Education Childcare Level 5 Part-Time

This Diploma is aimed at those working with children and young People from 0-19 years, concentrating on Early Years Practice. The qualification meets the minimum standards for managing Child Care settings as set out in DHSSPS Child-minding and Day Care (Children under 12). It is designed to guide and assess the development of knowledge and skills including those relating to leading teams and manag...

View NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Childrens Care Learning and Development (Management) (NI)

NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma for Children’s Care Learning and Development (Northern Ireland)

Dungannon Enniskillen Further Education Childcare Level 3 Full-Time

This qualification is designed to provide learners with underpinning knowledge and skills needed when working with children. It covers a diverse range of job roles and occupational areas in children’s settings, including early years. The qualification then builds on this knowledge and provides extended knowledge and skills to further learners understanding and provide a stepping stone into high...

View NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma for Children’s Care Learning and Development (Northern Ireland)

Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies, validated by Queen’s University Belfast, quality assured by Stranmillis University College

Omagh Higher Education Childcare Level 5 Full-Time

*Application to this programme is via UCAS and is not done directly with SWC.* The Foundation Degree will provide you with the opportunity to develop a thorough knowledge and understanding of early years and related issues, enabling you to become a competent and well qualified Early Years Practitioner. The Foundation Degree will give you a nationally recognised qualification an...

View Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies, validated by Queen’s University Belfast, quality assured by Stranmillis University College

Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies, validated by Queen’s University Belfast, quality assured by Stranmillis University College (Part-Time)

Omagh Higher Education Childcare Level 5 Part-Time

The closing date for this year is 3.00pm on 10th of June 2026. The Foundation Degree will provide you with the opportunity to develop a thorough knowledge and understanding of early years and related issues, enabling you to become a competent and well qualified Early Years Practitioner. The Foundation Degree will give you a n...

View Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies, validated by Queen’s University Belfast, quality assured by Stranmillis University College (Part-Time)

BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies from Stranmillis University College; validated by Queen’s University Belfast

Omagh Higher Education Childcare Level 6 Part-Time

*Applications must be made to Stranmillis directly before 1st March on year of entry.* This is a four year part-time course aimed at those interested in a career in Early Years. The theoretical training establishes and develops the skills necessary to cope with the challenges of supporting, caring for and educating young children in a professional environment. A work based elem...

View BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies from Stranmillis University College; validated by Queen’s University Belfast

City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Children's Care Learning and Development

Dungannon Omagh Further Education Apprenticeships Childcare Level 3 Full-Time Part-Time

The qualification allows learners to gain in-depth knowledge and understanding about child development (0-12 years) and to develop and refine the practical and technical skills required for employment and / or career progression in the Early Year and Childcare sector, working with children from 0-5 years and 11 months. This qualification is available as Full Time, Part Time or via an App...

View City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Children's Care Learning and Development

Progression

Level Options Course Options
Level 1/2 Equivalent to 4 GCSEs (Alternative to repeating GCSEs) City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Children's Care Learning and Development
Level 3 Equivalent to 3 A-Levels (ideal for progression to University) City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Children's Care Learning and Development

NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma for Children’s Care Learning and Development (Northern Ireland)
Level 5/6 Degree courses accredited by Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies, validated by Queen’s University Belfast, quality assured by Stranmillis University College

BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies from Stranmillis University College; validated by Queen’s University Belfast