Develop little minds into tomorrow’s leaders with the Higher Certificate: Early Childhood Development (ECD)

Why this course is perfect for you?

Do you enjoy interacting with little children? Are you an understanding and caring person with high patience levels? Then you could fit well into a career in Early Childhood Development (ECD).
Whether it’s a hands-on role as an educator working in a preschool or day care service, a health role such as a maternal and child health nurse; or a managerial role running a service, you’ll go home each day knowing that your work is supporting and enriching the lives of children and their families. Early childhood is a growth sector and qualified, committed early childhood professionals are in demand. Your training and education will be rewarded with a satisfying position and you can take your qualification to various sectors.
This course has been carefully designed to provide you with a deeper and more complex understanding of the knowledge, skills, and values required being an effective Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioner. ECD is one of the most necessary and rewarding career fields available in education today and we have designed this course to be informative, fun and practical, to ensure that you become an active learner. So take on a profession that allows you to mould and shape children to becoming bright, responsible and empowered individuals with the Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Development.

Why study with Damelin?

As soon as you join the Damelin family, you become part of a network of students, lecturers and friends, who will assist and support you during this exciting journey in your life. Our courses are designed to make your learning as comfortable as possible, with facilities that allow you to build your career in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Our lecturers will provide all the support and guidance you require, so you leave Damelin with an unforgettable campus experience.

How to get in?

Registering for the Higher Certificate: Early Childhood Development (ECD) is simple. We have various touch-points for your convenience. Simply call, email, fill in an online enquiry form, or pop into one of our 17 campuses nationwide, where one of our consultants will gladly assist you.
Requirements:

• English language at NQF 4 /Grade 12 or equivalent.
• Mathematical Literacy at NQF 4 /Grade 12 or equivalent.
• A South African second language at NQF 4 /Grade 12 or equivalent.

Time you will spend on the course

This is a one-year course, in which you will attend full-time classes during the week (based on certificate requirements). A year planner and academic calendar is available at the start of the year with dates and times of classes and campus activities to help you plan your schedule.

Course content and modules

You will cover these modules during the duration of your qualification.
Mediating Learning

• Explain and apply consistent theories of child development of individual children to inform own practice and planning on an individual basis

Literacy, Numeracy and Life Skills

• Learners are able to describe, plan, prepare, implement, assess and evaluate a Literacy programme, activities and material
• Learners are able to describe, plan, prepare, implement, assess and evaluate a Numeracy programme, activities and material
• Learners are able to describe, plan, prepare, implement, assess and evaluate a Life Skills programme, activities and material

Managing a Learning Programme

• Learners are able to establish and maintain efficient management systems that ensure the effective functioning of the ECD site

Safety, Nutrition and Healthy Development

• Demonstrate the ability to implement comprehensive safety & health policies in a holistic, inclusive & developmentally appropriate way with families and wider community

Computer Skills

• Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, Internet and email.

Communication Skills

• Confidently conduct a presentation in public

Basic Financial Skills

• Manage Material and Financial Resources

Working with Colleagues, Families and Communities

• To promote effective communication between ECD practice, families and communities

Assessing Children’s Progress

• To select and use appropriate methods for assessing children’s progress on a systematic basis, and establish process for communication with family about their children’s progress

Professional Practice in ECD

• Understand and promote professional accountability in practice

ECD Practical (1st and 2nd semester)

• Planning a Learning Programme
• Facilitating a Learning Programme
• Assessing children
• Evaluation of Learning Programme and self

Workplace Learning
This programme includes a compulsory Workplace Learning component. Workplace Learning provides important opportunities for professional and personal growth. It addresses specific competencies identified for the acquisition of the qualification, which relates to the development of skills that will make the learner employable and will assist in developing his/her personal skills.
Click here for quick access to the fact sheet for more info.

Materials to stay ahead

A list of prescribed textbooks will be made available at the start of the course. You will also receive an electronic version (e-guide) of this course. Textbooks are excluded from the course fee.

Careers you’d be great at

• Caregiver
• ECD Practitioner
• ECD Entrepreneur

The strength in your qualification

Upon successful completion of the programme, you will receive a Damelin results letter outlining the unit standards covered and Damelin will apply to ETDP on your behalf for the Higher Certificate: Early Childhood Development.

*This programme is offered by Damelin and quality assured by the Damelin Academic Board.