T Level Education and Early Years

Applications Open - Monday 27 October 2025

Applications Close - Open all year

How to Apply - Please apply through KentChoices and use your KentChoices login which your school should provide.

PLEASE NOTE - Popular courses can fill up quickly so apply early to avoid disappointment

If you have any queries regarding the courses, please contact EKC Ashford College

Application Limits - You can make up to 5 applications to Colleges within the EKC Group, that is:

• EKC Ashford College
• EKC Broadstairs College*
• EKC Canterbury College*
• EKC Dover College
• EKC Folkestone College*
• EKC Sheppey College

*Junior Colleges exist in these locations.

Please only add one course or T Level per application, except for A Levels at EKC Canterbury College, where up to 4 A Level courses can be added per application. At your interview, you and the tutors can discuss the best level and courses in order for you to progress.

Designed for students aged 16–19, a T Level combines classroom-based learning with dynamic work placement experience at a local employer. On this T Level, you’ll discover the rewarding Early Years sector and gain the skills, knowledge and practical experiences needed to build a successful career in working with children. From supporting children’s learning, to understanding development and wellbeing, you’ll make a positive impact on their lives. There are plenty of employer-set projects, trips, networking opportunities and industry experiences, all of which will enable a growth in confidence and clarity about your future. By the time you complete the course, you will understand first-hand what it is like to work with young children, leaving you well prepared for university, higher-level apprenticeships or skilled employment in schools and nurseries.

By studying a T Level, you will combine practical learning and academic study, thanks to a 750-hour work experience placement with a local school, nursery or Early Years setting. In your first year, you’ll cover a range of key topics that encourage you to look ahead to your next steps, including: • Understanding the education and childcare sector from ages 0 to 19 • How to support children and young people’s education • Child development • Special educational needs and disability • Working with parents, carers, families, agencies, and support services In your second year, choosing an occupational specialism enables you to tailor the course to your interests. These specialisms are: • Assisting Teaching • Early Years Education and Childcare Your industry placement is designed to bring everything together. Applying your theory knowledge in the world gives you valuable insight into how professionals work with children and helps you build confidence in your teaching methods. Working with local children means you’ll gain a valuable qualification and an insight into what your future could look like.

The assessments are all designed to test your knowledge of the Early Years sector and to ensure you’re ready for your next steps. On a T Level, you can expect to complete dynamic coursework in addition to exams at the end of each year. A large part of your final grade will be calculated with the completion of your industry placement. By taking part in an employer-set project, you’ll stand out from the crowd in today’s job market and leave College with a clear understanding of what children need.

This study programme is designed to help you move quickly toward advanced jobs, higher education, or apprenticeship opportunities if you know what you want to do next and meet the entry requirements needed for success. Achieving a Level 3 qualification will improve your future earning potential and career choices. It also allows you to progress to Higher Education, Higher Apprenticeships, and Degree Apprenticeships. These can lead to roles like advanced technician or skilled supervisor at Level 3, and eventually to management or professional status as you continue your studies. To study at Level 3, including all T Level and A Level programmes, you will need an average entry score of 5.0 from your best 6 GCSE subjects, ideally including English and Maths.

Completing a T Level means easy progression to a new career in the world of Education and Early Years. The skills gained are invaluable and are highly sought after by employers. Roles that you could go into include: • Playworker • Teaching Assistant • Learning Mentor • Nursery Worker • Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teaching Assistant As T Levels are equivalent to three A Levels, former students have progressed to universities across the country. If university isn’t for you, then higher-level apprenticeships are also an option. Thanks to choosing a T Level, Emma is now heading to Canterbury Christ Church University to study BA (Hons) Mental Health Nursing: “My favourite thing about the course was definitely my placement at Bridge Nursery. I'm super happy to have passed. I'd tell other students to make the most of every opportunity.”