Early Childhood Education and Care (HND)

• Gain specialist skills for future employment • Practical-based learning through vocational, academic and practical skills • Ranked top 3 modern university in London (Complete University Guide 2025)

About this course

This Higher National Diploma helps you enter specific career paths within the Early Education and Care Industries, or on completion, progress to your final year of a degree here at Roehampton. This University course is approved by the Institute for Apprenticeship and Technical Education.

Roehampton is internationally renowned for its work in early childhood studies. With a team of highly-regarded tutors, who are all experts in their specialisms, you will learn from some of the best in the field.

Three specialist pathways are available to support progression into relevant occupational areas or on to degree-level study. These are:

• Education • Leadership and Management • Social and Community Care Practice

There is also a non-specialist pathway, which allows you to complete your Diploma without committing to a particular professional specialism. This offers additional flexibility and supports progression into a range of early education and care-related degrees.

In addition to your learning, you must undertake a work placement or gain experience in early education and/or care settings. This should total 525 cumulative hours. You will also complete a Practical Reflective Evidence Portfolio (PREP), including reflective accounts. These must be completed over the duration of the programme.

Skills

On finishing the course, you will have the confidence to enter the employment market, with a sound understanding of the Early Education and Care Industries, or progress to a related degree in early childhood education, and work towards gaining Qualified Teacher Status if appropriate.

Career opportunities

You’ll be prepared to go into a range of careers and industries. This includes:

• Social and Community Care Support • Family Support Worker • Early Years Intervention Support Worker • Childminder • Other leadership and management roles in a range of early childhood environment

You could also progress on to further study through a degree, a higher apprenticeship programme or continuing professional development.

Our careers team is available to support you from the start of your studies until after you graduate. They will help you build your CV, prepare for interviews, and meet and learn from successful graduates working at the top of their careers.

You’ll also have opportunities to work with our partners across London and beyond, and to attend a Roehampton jobs fair where you can find out about graduate opportunities and meet employers.