GMIT launches new level 7 diploma in school age childcare

GMIT’s Department of Nursing, Health Sciences and Social Care is pleased to offer a brand new course in its suite of Early Childhood Education and Care programmes, the new Diploma in School Age Childcare (Level 7), the first such course to be offered in Irish third-level colleges.

The innovative academic programme was designed in consultation with stakeholders in the School Age Childcare (SAC) and Early Learning and Care (ELC) sector. One hundred and five (105) participants took part in the consultation process representing 89 SAC and ELC organisations.

School Age Childcare became a regulated service in February 2019, requiring providers of school age childcare services to register with Tusla, the national Child and Family Agency. The programme will support the upskilling of professionals working in this area, meeting employers’ requirements outlined during the stakeholder consultation process with GMIT.

The programme will be delivered using a blended approach (online and one Saturday a month) at GMIT’s Mayo campus over one academic year and is designed to be accessible to individuals already working full-time in this sector. Modules include Leadership, Psychology, Digital Technologies, Relationships, Nature Pedagogy and Play.

The programme was validated by an external board comprised of academic peers who support the quality improvement of the School Age Childcare Sector in Ireland who said this highly innovative programme will benefit children in School Age Childcare services and they commended the level of consultation and engagement with stakeholders.

Justin Kerr, Head of the School of Health Science, Wellbeing & Society, GMIT Mayo, says: “The team are to be congratulated on developing a highly innovative, learner-centred programme that School Age Children richly deserve and reflects the market. I am very proud of the hard work and rich consultation our team conducted with stakeholders in this discipline and to see this programme come to fruition”.

Louise Kilbane, Programme Chair of the GMIT Diploma in School Age Childcare, adds: “I am very excited to be the programme chair of our new innovative course in School Age Childcare. It will support quality experiences for children in School Age Childcare services and support children’s developmental needs through play and rich experiences. For many years now in Ireland the sector has called upon higher level institutions to develop a training programme for those working with children in SAC. We are delighted to support the sector in answering this call and we know the graduates will bring high quality to the SAC services across the country.”

For further details, see: www.gmit.ie/nursing-health-sciences-and-social-care/diploma-school-age-childcare or email: louise.kilbane@gmit.ie Direct applications for the course can be made to GMIT https://apply.gmit.ie and select Application Type L7 GSPD Level 7.Closing date for direct applications is Wednesday, 16 June, 5pm. The programme code is GA_SACHC_S07

The new course complements the suite of early childhood education and care courses offered by GMIT’s  Department of Nursing, Health Sciences and Social Care. Such is demand for the BA in Early Childhood Education and Care courses launched in 2016 these programmes will be delivered at the Galway campus (in addition to the Mayo campus) from September 2021. Early years educators or other applicants with a full Award at QQI Level 6 in Childcare or equivalent may apply directly to GMIT for direct entry into Year 2.

Joanne Doherty, Programme Chair, says: “We have been working to deliver our popular Early Childhood Education and Care course (L7 and L8) in Galway for some time due to the success of the programme in Mayo and demand from those in the sector for a Galway delivery. This programme has been very successful for early years educators who have already obtained a Level 6 and wish to upskill to the Level 7 (ordinary degree) and Level 8 (honours degree) while continuing to work in the sector”. 
 
For further course information about the BA in Early Childhood Education and Care, see: https://www.gmit.ie/nursing-and-social-care/bachelor-arts-hons-early-childhood-education-and-care or email joanne.doherty@gmit.ie

“Year 2 and Year 3 classes will be delivered on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2pm to 7/8pm and some classes will be online. The course includes 12 hours a week Practice Development (module), and these hours can mostly be completed in a workplace should students be employed in an Early Years setting”, explains Ms Doherty.

“The Early Childhood Education and Care team in GMIT are very proud that both our L7 and L8 courses have met the requirements of the Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines set out by the Department of Education. This is not only an incredible endorsement of the BA in Early Childhood Education and Care course at GMIT, it is excellent news for the graduates of the programme. Our students are deemed to be at the centre of providing high quality care and education to our youngest citizens and their families. The future is bright for our graduates and for babies, young children and their families”.

Direct applications for this course can be made online at admissions@gmit.ie and the code to apply for Galway is SECHG_B07. Closing date for applications is Wednesday, 16 June, 5pm. Applicants with a QQI Level 6 can apply for direct entry to Year 2 of the Level 7 or Level 8 programmes. Applicants with a QQI Level 7 can apply for direct entry to Year 4 Level 8 programmes.

The full suite of GMIT programmes in the area of Early Childhood Education and Care are:

Higher Certificate in Early Childhood education and Care (Level 6) (Mayo Only)

BA in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 7) course code SECHC_B07 for Mayo or direct application to Year 2 SECHG_B07 for Galway

BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 8) (Mayo only)

Diploma in School Age Childcare (new 2021)

For further information about these courses, visit: https://www.gmit.ie/mayo/mayo

ENDS

Issued by Regina Daly, GMIT Communications & Press Officer, GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway.
0879618355 (m) regina.daly@gmit.ie   www.gmit.ie/news

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