Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory (For Last Award 2024)

Level 3

Updates to HSC, CC and CYP Level 2 and Level 3 qualification handbooks and assessment delivery guides
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Who is the qualification for?

The Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory qualification combines theoretical knowledge in children's care, play, learning and development with the practical skills needed to work within the sector.

It is primarily designed for post-16 learners in further education who are:

  • interested in working in a support role in the childcare sector
  • studying, or have completed Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core qualification
  • returning to the workforce after a career break looking to refresh their knowledge and skills in the Childcare sector.

This qualification is suitable for learners who have achieved a Level 2 qualification including the Level 2 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory or who have no previous knowledge of the children's care, play, learning and development sectors.

Learners who have not yet completed the Level 2 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core qualifications are strongly advised to do so prior to or alongside this qualification.

What does the qualification cover?

This qualification allows learners to develop the knowledge and skills required for employment and/or career progression in childcare or health settings.

It combines both practice units that are assessed within the workplace with additional theoretical knowledge. The practice element of this qualification mirrors that of the Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice qualification.

By completing this qualification, learners will be able to demonstrate that they:

  • understand, and apply in practice, the principles and values which underpin children’s care, play, learning and development
  • understand, and apply, in practice, child-centred approaches to care, play and learning
  • can promote and support child development through their own practice
  • can evaluate research and theories to support practice
  • are aware of key policies within the sector and how these affect service development and delivery
  • can work in partnership with children, their families, carers and a range of professionals
  • can reflect on practice to continuously improve
  • can apply a range of problem-solving techniques
  • can use literacy, numeracy and digital competency skills as appropriate within their role.

Learners are required to complete a minimum of 700 hours of work placement to achieve this qualification.

Qualification structure

The Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory is credit based and allows learners to combine mandatory units with a wide-range of optional units depending on their work placement or future career aspirations. Learners must complete a minimum of 72 credits in total.

The mandatory units are:

Unit Unit Title Assessment Credit
300 Promoting core practice in children’s care, play, learning and development Internal 18
301 Promoting play, learning, growth and development Internal 5
302 Promoting nutrition and hydration in early years Internal 4
303 Responding to childhood illness, infestation/infection, disease and immunisation Internal 3

 

At least one of the following:

304 Promoting the care of 0-2 year olds Internal 4
305 Promoting the care of 2-3 year olds Internal 4
306 Promoting the care of 3-7 year olds Internal 6

 

Plus the following mandatory theory units:

330 Principles and theories that influence children's care, play, learning and development in the 21st century in Wales External 19
331 Investigating current issues in children's care, play, learning and development in Wales External 3

Assessment

The Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory qualification is assessed through 70% internal assessment and 30% external assessment. Candidates must successfully complete:

  • an externally set, internally marked set of tasks
  • a portfolio of evidence
  • a discussion with their assessor
  • an external examination
  • an externally set and marked extended investigation.

An assessment pack detailing the requirements of the internal assessment can be downloaded from the key documents and supporting materials tab of the qualification page.

What could the qualification lead to?

Completion of the Level 3 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory qualification provides a suitable foundation for the study of early years and childcare through a range of higher education courses, or apprenticeships.

UCAS Tariff Points

Grade Points
Distinction* 112
Distinction 96
Merit 64
Pass 32

Find A Centre

Contact us

Amy Allen-Thomas

Subject Officer
ccpld@wjec.co.uk
029 2240 4264

Tania Lucas 

Subject Support Officer
ccpld@wjec.co.uk
029 2240 4264

Key Documents

Specification

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Learner Information Guide

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Qualification Delivery Guide

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Guidance for Teaching

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Descriptor

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Unit 330 Examination – Summer 2023 (Inc Question Paper, Mark Scheme, Online Exam Review & Examiner’s Report)

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Unit 331 Examination – Summer 2023 (Inc Examiner’s Report , Topics, Mark Scheme & Online Exam Review)

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Unit 330 Examination – January 2023 (Inc Question Paper, Mark Scheme, Online Exam Review & Examiner’s Report)

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Unit 331 Examination – January 2023 (Inc Examiner’s Report , Topics, Mark Scheme & Online Exam Review)

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Unit 331 Examination - June 2022 (Inc Question Paper, Mark Scheme, Online Exam Review & Examiner’s Report)

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Unit 330 Examination - June 2022 (Inc Question Paper, Mark Scheme, Online Exam Review & Examiner’s Report)

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Unit 330 Examination - January 2022 (Inc Question Paper, Mark Scheme, Online Exam Review & Examiner’s Report)

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Unit 330 Examination - Autumn 2021 (Inc Question Paper, Mark Scheme, Online Exam Review & Examiner’s Report)

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Unit 330 Examination - January 2021 (Inc Question Paper, Mark Scheme, Online Exam Review & Examiner’s Report)

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Textbook Order Form - Level 3 CCPLD: Theory

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Assessment Pack

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Assessment Resource Pack (Practice)

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e-submission Centre Guide (2021-22)

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Sample Assessment Materials: Unit 330 – External Exam

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Sample Assessment Materials: Unit 331 – Extended Investigation

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Unit 331 Timesheet

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Options Evening Flyer

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Welcome to Level 3 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory

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UCAS Points

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Recognition of Prior Learning Policy

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Command Verbs

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Qualification Mapping

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Exam Walk Through

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Unit 330 – Mapped to interactive HCLW resources

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Example Practice Assessment (Observation and Reflective Log)

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Course Materials

FAQs from Summer Drop In Session (June 2021)

Head to our Training and Events page for the latest information on Professional Development events and learning opportunities for this qualification.

View our Qualification Overview webinar Recording:

Event Link

Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory: Preparing to Teach (December 2019)

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Delegate Pack - Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory: Preparing to Teach (December 2019)

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Level 3 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory: Units 330 and 331 Workshop (May 2020) Click here to view
Q&As from CCPLD Network Meetings (May 2020) Click here to view
City & Guilds / WJEC Phase 3 2020 21 delivery and assessment mitigations (September 2020) Click here to view
Q&As from Phase 3 2020 21 delivery and assessment mitigations (September 2020) Click here to view
Level 3 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory Autumn Network (October 2020) Click here to view
Q&As from Autumn Network (October 2020) Click here to view
Level 3 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory Spring Network (March 2021) Click here to view
FAQs: Spring Network (March 2021) Click here to view
Level 2 and 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development Practice and Theory – Understanding the Practice Assessment Journey (November 2021) Click here to view
Level 2 and 3 CCPLD Practice and Theory Understanding the Practice Assessment Journey – Material (November 2021) Click here to view
FAQs: Understanding the Practice Assessment Journey (November 2021) Click here to view
Example Practice Assessment (Observation and Reflective Log) (November 2021) Click here to view
eSubmissions - Obtaining Keycodes via Surpass Click here to view
CCPLD Level 3: Practice and Theory Spring Network (2022) Click here to view
Q&A - CCPLD Level 3: Practice and Theory Spring Network (2022) Click here to view
CCPLD Level 3: Practice and Theory Autumn Network (2022) Click here to view
CCPLD Level 3: Unit 330 Practice and Theory Spring Network (2023) Click here to view
CCPLD Level 3: Unit 331 Practice and Theory Spring Network (2023) Click here to view
CCPLD Level 3: Unit 330 Practice and Theory Autumn Network (2023) Click here to view
CCPLD Level 3: Unit 331 Practice and Theory Autumn Network (2023) Click here to view

 

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