Level 4

Study early childhood education (ECE)

Get started on your early childhood education career. Learn the teaching skills to educate young children and get experience working in a range of childcare facilities, including placements in multicultural settings.
Overview

Programme highlights

Help give young children the best start in their education.

Become an early childhood educator.

You will learn how to care for children and support them to reach their next milestone.

This qualification is the best place to start if you want to get a job as an early learning centre educator, home-based educator, teacher aide, education support worker, kaimahi or nanny. Or, you could already be working in the industry and want to get your skills recognised.

You will also learn the fundamentals in early childhood development and get real-world experience working or volunteering in an early childhood centre or home-based care setting.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

General

Be 17 years of age or over at the commencement of the programme.

Safety checks

To satisfy the risk assessment and safety check required in compliance with the Vulnerable Children Act (2014) the following requirements are in place:

  1. Provide a New Zealand Police Check (using the NZ Police and Vetting Consent to Disclosure of Information form) that demonstrates that the applicant has no criminal record and thus meets the requirements to work with at-risk and vulnerable children as required by the Vulnerable Children Act (2014)
  2. Attend a face to face interview (or equivalent)
  3. Sign a statement agreeing to the release of pertinent information relevant to the Vulnerable Children Act 2014 that a Childcare centre may request
  4. Provide two satisfactory written referee reports
  5. Provide one photograph that meets the criteria defined by the New Zealand passport office: https://www.passports.govt.nz/Passport-Photo-Requirements 
International students: English language entry requirements

For the minimum English language requirements visit the IELTS Test Centre and refer to the requirements set out in the NZQF Programme and Accreditation Rules: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers-partners/qa-system-for-teos/english-international-students/

International students will generally be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency, for this programme an IELTS General or Academic score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5 is required. Equivalent acceptable evidence can be seen at the following NZQA link: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/our-role/legislation/nzqa-rules/nzqf-related-rules/the-table/

Special & discretionary admission

Any ākonga who is 20 years of age or older and has not reached the general admission requirements for their intended programme is eligible for Special Admission. Te Pūkenga works with the ākonga to ensure they are prepared for their intended programme. Any ākonga who is not yet 20 years of age and has not reached the general admission requirements for their intended programme may be eligible for Discretionary Admission. In assessing whether to grant Discretionary Admission, the delegated authority focuses on the applicant’s level of preparedness for their intended programme.

Need IELTS?

Book your British Council IELTS test with us.

You will complete your test in one day, plus get free online tuition to help you succeed. We offer paper-based or computer-delivered IELTS. Choose computer-delivered IELTS and get your results in 3-5 days.

Give yourself credit with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Did you know you can use the knowledge and experience you already have to your advantage?

Your previous work experience and on-the-job skills, volunteering, professional development, and other providers’ qualifications can be recognised as prior learning, matched against credits in our courses, and put towards your qualification – potentially saving you money and possibly helping you to complete your qualification faster Learn more.

Programme structure

Programme structure

You will need to complete the below three courses (60 credits):

902.434 Learning and development theory (22 credits)

Develop your understanding of learning and development theories and characteristics of infants, toddlers and young children to enhance effective teaching techniques to support children's learning through play.

902.435 Curriculum in ECE (22 credits)

An introduction to the Early Childhood Curriculum document Te Whāriki and how you may use this to observe, plan, review and respond to children's learning.

902.436 Cultural partnerships in ECE (16 credits)

Learn about ethical practice and professional behaviour in working with diverse cultures while developing in your personal and professional journey through reciprocal relationships with the families and whanau in an ECE setting.

Do you want to study a single course, without enrolling into the full programme?

Courses within some of our programmes may be offered as an individual Certificate of Proficiency (COP). Programme entry requirements and course fees apply. For more information, please speak to our friendly Ask Me! team.

Careers and pathways

Further training or study

Career opportunities

Entry-level early childhood educator (centre or home-based), teacher aide, education support worker or nanny. For potential salaries visit careers.govt.nz.

Find more online study options with Open Polytechnic

Now that we're part of Te Pūkenga, we also have access to a wider range of options from throughout the network. Follow the link in the banner below to explore Open Polytechnic’s online study options.

Free study for the first year of your Level 3 or above qualification may be available under the government’s fees-free study scheme. Visit feesfree.govt.nz for eligibility criteria and more information. Students must be eligible to study as a domestic student. All free study is subject to funding confirmation. Proof of residency status required. Entry criteria, and some costs, may also apply. Eligibility for student allowances or student loans may vary. Contact StudyLink for more information.

Information is correct as at 29 November 2023. Programme fees are based on a full-time student and may vary depending on your final selection of courses that make up your programme. To provide you with an indication of costs, the approximate fees quoted in this publication are based on the indicative 2024 fee structure. The indicative programme fees for 2024 do not include the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF). The CSSF is an additional levy to your 2024 programme or course fees. Further information about the CSSF can be found here www.manukau.ac.nz/cssf. Programmes stated as eligible for free study in 2024 are based on the 2023 fee structure and subject to funding confirmation for 2024. All fees are in New Zealand Dollars. You will be advised of the current fees at the time of enrolment. All courses and programmes will proceed subject to numbers and academic approval. Manukau Institute of Technology is part of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. Te Pūkenga is accredited under the provisions of the Education and Training Act 2020. International students must study in class and will not be able to enrol for online study options.