Description
Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (RQF)
- £341
- *Prices shown are all-inclusive of VAT—no extra charges!
- Priority Track option available
Why Study with us?
- Priority-track assessments and workbook marking
- For learners aged 16+ working or volunteering with children and young people
- Flexible, self-paced study – most learners finish in 6–9 months
- Courses designed and assessed by subject-qualified industry trainers and assessors
- One-to-one live sessions (if desired) with expert tutors
Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce Course Overview
The Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (RQF) is a Focus Awards qualification for people who work, or are about to start work, in a supporting role with children and young people aged from birth to 19. It is a practical, competence-based qualification: alongside the theory, you show what you do in a real setting, so it suits nursery assistants, crèche workers, playworkers, after-school club staff and special educational needs support staff.
The 11 mandatory units cover child and young person development, safeguarding, health and safety, positive environments, positive behaviour, partnership working, communication, personal development, equality and inclusion, and building positive relationships. Our programme adds two Level 3 optional units on promoting development and safeguarding wellbeing, giving you a head start for Level 3 study. Because the qualification spans the full birth-to-19 age range, it is ideal if your work involves schools, clubs or youth settings as well as young children. If your goal is to be counted in Level 2 ratios in an early years setting in England, our Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner is the better fit.
Career Opportunities and Progression after the Level 2 Certificate
The certificate supports supporting roles across children’s services, such as crèche assistant, playworker, after-school or holiday club assistant, nursery assistant or special educational needs support assistant. It also helps you grow in a role you already hold. Employers set their own requirements, so the qualification strengthens your applications rather than guaranteeing a particular job.
When you are ready to progress, you could move on to our Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator) if you want to specialise in early years, the Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools if you work in a school, or the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) if you work in a children’s home. The two Level 3 optional units in this course give you a taste of the depth expected at that level.
Do I need a work placement to complete this course?
Yes. Several units include skills-based learning outcomes that must be assessed in a real work environment, and simulation is not permitted for these. You will therefore need to be working, volunteering or on placement in a setting with children or young people throughout the course – for example a nursery, crèche, school, after-school or holiday club, or youth setting. Paid and voluntary roles are both suitable, provided the setting is happy to support your assessment.
Evidence of your practice is gathered through methods such as observation, witness testimony from an experienced colleague, examples of your work and reflective accounts. There is no set minimum number of placement hours, but you will need regular access to your setting to complete your evidence.
There are no exams. You build a portfolio of evidence that is internally assessed and externally quality assured by Focus Awards. Your portfolio combines written assignments and worksheets with evidence from your setting, such as assessor observation, witness testimony, questioning and products of your work. Assignments are marked within 3–5 working days, or 1–3 working days on Priority Track.
You must achieve a minimum of 35 credits: 29 credits from the 11 mandatory units and at least 6 credits from optional units. Our programme includes the two optional units listed below.
Mandatory units
Unit 01: Child and Young Person Development
Unit 02: Contribute to the Support of Child and Young Person Development
Unit 03: Safeguarding the Welfare of Children and Young People
Unit 04: Contribute to Children and Young People’s Health and Safety
Unit 05: Contribute to the Support of Positive Environments for Children and Young People
Unit 06: Understand Partnership Working in Services for Children and Young People
Unit 07: Support Children and Young People’s Positive Behaviour
Unit 08: Introduction to Communication in Health, Social Care or Children’s and Young People’s Settings
Unit 09: Introduction to Personal Development in Health, Social Care or Children’s and Young People’s Settings
Unit 10: Introduction to Equality and Inclusion in Health, Social Care or Children’s and Young People’s Settings
Unit 11: Maintain and Support Relationships with Children and Young People
Optional units (Level 3)
Unit 12: Promote Child and Young Person Development
Unit 13: Understand How to Safeguard the Wellbeing of Children and Young People
The Level 2 Certificate has 283 guided learning hours (GLH) and a total qualification time (TQT) of 350 hours. Study is self-paced, and most learners complete it in 6–9 months, depending on their time in their setting and the hours they can give to study each week. Your enrolment includes 12 months’ access to the learning platform and tutor support from the date you enrol; if you need more time, you can extend your access for a re-enrolment fee.
Qualification Number: 601/6088/3
Focus Awards is an Awarding Organisation regulated by Ofqual, ensuring that all qualifications adhere to rigorous standards.
Vocational Courses we offer in Bundle
Pricing Plans
Standard One Time Purchase
Make a single payment, and you're all set to begin your learning journey.
£341*inc. VAT
- OfQual-approved qualification
- 24/7 access to LMS and unlimited tutor support
- Transparent pricing, no hidden charges
- Start when you're ready with a full year of access.
- Unlimited revisions
- Receive feedback within 3 – 5 working days
Standard Monthly
Spread the cost of £392.16 (inc. VAT) with convenient monthly payments over 6 months.
£65.36*inc. VAT
per month
Priority Track One Time Purchase
Make a single payment, and you're all set to begin your learning journey.
£392*inc. VAT
- OfQual-approved qualification
- 24/7 access to LMS and unlimited tutor support
- Transparent pricing, no hidden charges
- Start when you're ready with a full year of access.
- Unlimited revisions
- Receive feedback within 1 – 3 working days
Priority Track Monthly
Spread the cost of £450.78 (inc. VAT) with convenient monthly payments over 6 months.
£75.13*inc. VAT
per month
Discounted Business/Corporate Purchases
Enjoy Bulk Discounts
The following bulk discounts are applicable to our corporate clients:
5% for booking 3 learnersÂ
10% for booking 5 or more learnersÂ
15% for booking 10 or more learners
For enquiries, please contact our sales team at +44 20 8178 4802
Flexible Payment Options
Take advantage of a 30-day payment term when buying 5 or more courses. Please note that an upfront payment will be required unless you are a regular buyer.
Course reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
This course is for anyone aged 16 or over who works, volunteers or has a placement in a supporting role with children or young people – in a nursery, crèche, school, club or youth setting – and wants a recognised qualification that reflects their practice. It is also a good choice if you want a broad grounding in the children and young people’s workforce before choosing a Level 3 specialism.
You will learn how children and young people develop from birth to 19, how to support their development, how to keep them safe and promote their wellbeing, how to support positive behaviour, and how to work in partnership with families and other professionals. You will also develop your communication skills, your reflective practice and your understanding of equality and inclusion.
The Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner focuses on children from birth to five and is designed to meet the Department for Education’s Early Years Practitioner criteria. Level 2 qualifications started from 1 September 2019 must meet these criteria to count in Level 2 staff:child ratios in early years settings in England. This certificate covers a wider age range, from birth to 19, and is not an Early Years Practitioner qualification. Choose it if your role is in schools, clubs, crèches or youth settings and you do not need to be counted in early years ratios.
Yes. All learning materials, assignments and tutor support are delivered online through our learning platform, so you can study at your own pace with unlimited tutor support and optional one-to-one live sessions. The practical evidence comes from your own setting, so you will combine online study with your day-to-day work with children or young people.
Most learners complete the certificate in 6–9 months. You have 12 months’ access from enrolment, with the option to extend for a re-enrolment fee if you need more time.
You must be aged 16 or over. There are no formal entry qualifications, but you will need to be working, volunteering or on placement in a setting with children or young people so that your practical skills can be assessed. Most settings will ask for an enhanced DBS check before you start.
No. There are no fixed deadlines for individual assignments, so you can work at your own pace as long as you complete the course within your access period.
This qualification is awarded by Focus Awards, an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual. On successful completion you will receive a Focus Awards certificate.
Qualification Number: 601/6088/3
If you still have any questions, please refer to our main FAQs page or contact us for further assistance.
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