{"id":3330,"date":"2021-01-12T17:01:06","date_gmt":"2021-01-12T17:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/?page_id=3330"},"modified":"2026-02-27T12:01:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T12:01:07","slug":"childhood-studies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/?page_id=3330","title":{"rendered":"Childhood Studies"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Certificate in Early Learning and Care (Stage 1)<\/h2>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Teacher-Eduction-1024x682.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Teacher-Eduction-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Teacher-Eduction-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Teacher-Eduction-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Teacher-Eduction-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/elementor\/thumbs\/Teacher-Eduction-qn6pnoa9ra0rwji23f3npto5kmylzbcmvk7xqfyjw8.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Teacher-Eduction.jpg 1086w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Course Description:<\/h2>\n<p>The Certificate in Early Learning and Care is the new standard for childcare education in Ireland. This one-year, full-time course prepares learners to work with young children aged 0-6 years. It is ideal for both school leavers and experienced mature persons seeking a formal qualification. The course content is a balance of theory and hands-on, practical skills, providing the learner with the knowledge and skills needed for the care, wellbeing, safety and health of children aged 0 &#8211; 6 in the Early Learning and Care setting. Learners will be equipped to work successfully in a variety of childcare environments and will have with a thorough understanding of their role as an Early Learning and Care professional.<\/p>\n<h2>Course Details:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Full Time<\/li>\n<li>1 Year, September to May<\/li>\n<li>5M21473 \u2013 Early Learning and Care (QQI Level 5)<\/li>\n<li>Contact: fhoran@loetb.ie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a tabindex=\"0\">Modules<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Professional Practice Placements in Early Learning and Care<br \/>\n\u2022 Children\u2019s Rights, Legislation and Regulation<br \/>\n\u2022 Early Childhood Growth and Development<br \/>\n\u2022 Curriculum, Play and Creative Studies<br \/>\n\u2022 Understanding and Assisting Children with Additional Needs<br \/>\n\u2022 Holistic Care of Children (birth to six yrs).<\/p>\n<p><a tabindex=\"0\">Entry Requirements<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Applicants should be of Leaving Certificate Standard or have achieved an Applied Leaving Certificate with Distinction. Portlaoise Institute welcomes applications from mature students. Mature students are assessed on their merits and may not require the above qualification. Where English is not their first language, applicants for this course must also meet the minimum English language and literacy competency. The minimum standard of English required for this programme is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, Level B2 in writing, reading, listening and speaking. Evidence of achievement of this standard is necessary for<br \/>\nentry to the programme<\/p>\n<p><a tabindex=\"0\">Fees<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u20ac50 Certification Fee. Medical Card holders or those in receipt of a social welfare payment are exempt from this fee<\/p>\n<p><a tabindex=\"0\">Progression<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This course is recognised as a QQI progression route into a range of courses in higher education including, but not limited, to the following. Please note, some courses may have additional entry requirements.<br \/>\n<strong>South East Technological University (SETU) Carlow:<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 SE913 Early Childhood Education and Practice (Level 8)<br \/>\n\u2022 SE918 Social Care Practice (Level 8)<br \/>\n<strong>Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Athlone<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 US780 Early Years Care and Education (Level 7)<br \/>\n\u2022 US782 Applied Social Studies in Social Care (Level 7)<br \/>\n<strong>Maynooth University<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 MH107 Social Science (Level 8)<br \/>\n\u2022 MH003 Early Childhood \u2013 Teaching and Learning (Level 8)<br \/>\n<strong>Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Letterkenny<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 AU310 Law (Level 8)<br \/>\n<strong>Dublin City University (DCU)<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 DC235 Education and Training (Level 8)<\/p>\n<p><a tabindex=\"0\">Career Opportunities<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Successful learners will have the skills and qualifications to work in a variety of childcare settings including:<br \/>\n\u2022 Cr\u00e8ches<br \/>\n\u2022 Nurseries<br \/>\n\u2022 Playgroups<br \/>\n\u2022 Play Assistants in Hospitals<\/p>\n<h2>Commencing September 2026<\/h2>\n<h3>Student Testimonial<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-300x300.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-230x230.png 230w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-400x400.png 400w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-640x640.png 640w, https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5.png 1080w\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Certificate in Early Learning and Care (Stage 1) Course Description: The Certificate in Early Learning and Care is the new standard for childcare education in Ireland. This one-year, full-time course prepares learners to work with young children aged 0-6 years. It is ideal for both school leavers and experienced mature persons seeking a formal qualification. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3330"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3330"}],"version-history":[{"count":183,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3330\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9356,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3330\/revisions\/9356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlaoiseinstitute.ie\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}