NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Working with Babies and Young Children (Under 2 Years)

About the course

About the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Working with Babies and Young Children (Under 2 Years)

The demand for skilled SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) practitioners in the early years sector has never been greater. With a growing number of children presenting with diverse and specific needs, there is an urgent need to equip early years professionals with the expertise to provide effective, inclusive, and compassionate support.

Our accredited SEN Coordinator (SENCO) programme is expertly designed for those qualified at level 3 or above. The flexible and intensive course focuses on equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to become qualified SENCOs in their setting, support SEND children and meet EYFS standards.

This comprehensive online training course is ideal for any employed nursery staff wanting to qualify as a SEN Coordinator.

Babies learn from every interaction, moment and connection. This course empowers you to provide care that is responsive, nurturing and developmentally appropriate, helping each child feel secure as they grow, explore and thrive. Gain the knowledge and confidence to make a lasting impact in the first critical years of life.

Whether you want to grow in confidence, move forward in your early years career or strengthen your professional practice, this qualification is the ideal next step.

Course Overview

Duration: 4–5 months
Delivery: Two group sessions per month (3 hours each)
Support: One-to-one personal tutor guidance
Assessment: Written tasks, case studies & observation in practice
Workplace requirement: Must be employed or volunteering with children under 2 in an early years setting
Entry requirements: No prior qualifications required

What you’ll learn

A rich, practical programme designed to develop specialist knowledge for caring for babies and young children under two.

You’ll explore:

• Typical and atypical development
• Brain development in early infancy
• Crying and communication cues
• Weaning | gagging vs choking
• How pregnancy, birth and early experience influence development
• Individual needs and responsive support strategies

Develop confidence and skill in meeting early care needs safely, respectfully and responsively.

Includes learning on:

• EYFS Section 3 requirements
• Essential care routines in early years practice
• Nutrition, feeding & safe weaning
• Safe sleep & SIDS awareness
• Nappy changing & toileting
• Oral health and teething
• Emotional needs and Maslow’s hierarchy
• Caring for unwell babies or young children

You will gain an understanding of:

• Attachment theory: secure & insecure attachment
• Creating warm, responsive relationships
• The role of the key person as a secure base
• Advocating for babies and respecting routines
• Parent partnership working
• Multi-agency collaboration for early support

Learn how to create rich developmental experiences through play and exploration.

Topics include:

• Treasure baskets & heuristic play
• Serve and return interaction
• Schemas & observation techniques
• Indoor/outdoor play environments
• Health and safety within provision
• The environment as the ‘third teacher’
• The two-year check & assessment processes

You will be observed in your setting to show how you:

• Meet physical, emotional & individual needs
• Support development through planned experiences
• Create enabling, age-appropriate environments

This ensures you leave the course confident and practice-ready.

Why choose this qualification?

• Build specialist skills to support the youngest children
• Gain confidence in responsive, high-quality early years care
• Learn through real practice, reflection and guided support
• Nationally recognised NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualification
• A stepping-stone to further study and career development

Why Choose Realise?

• Award-winning training provider – Winner of Training Provider of the Year at the Nursery Awards 2025
• Passionate about childcare – we inspire and support practitioners who want to make a real difference
• Expert tutors with real-world early years experience
• Flexible learning designed around busy working lives
• Personalised support with 1-to-1 tutor guidance throughout the course
• Practical, hands-on approach to ensure you can apply knowledge in your setting
• Welcoming learning community connecting you with like-minded childcare professionals
• Career progression focus – gain skills that open pathways to further study and leadership roles in early years

Cost: n/a