NCI Course Details

Over the course of this 12-week, part-time blended learning programme, you will develop knowledge, skills & values, through the study of key topics incorporated throughout the programme. These include leadership theories and concepts, sociocultural theory, learning styles, preparing training and development, change and conflict management, and national early childhood frameworks and policy.

A central feature of the programme is the online learning environment, which combines live online lectures that you can participate in from your workplace or home, and directed activities that you complete at your own pace. The programme is highly practical, and will guide you through the stages of developing, implementing and evaluating a digital learning resource to support the achievement of learning goals in your practice context.

This course is ideally suited to coordinators supporting Home Visitors whom already have some experience of leading and wish to deepen and extend their leadership, governance and change management practices.

This course is also suited to Home Visitors planning to work as coordinators in early childhood home visiting programmes and wish to develop professional knowledge, skills and competencies for effective leadership.

Alongside Home Visitors, this course is suitable for early childhood years practitioners/ educators, managers in early childhood settings such as crèche, or Naíonraí, and special educational needs environments. It is also for those who would like to be an inspector/evaluator, mentor, for the Health Service Executive, DES or TUSLA (the child and family support agency and curriculum trainers).

For information on the modules taught on this course view our module descriptors.

Online delivery with a series of self-paced, directed online activities.

The Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care will lead to a special purpose award at Level 7 (10 ECTS credits) on the National Framework of Qualifications.

Learners who successfully complete this course may opt to progress to the Bachelors of Arts (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Care.

Candidates will be Early Childhood Educators working in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector Candidates will typically have a Certificate (major award) at level 5 or equivalent in any discipline.

For applicants whose first language is not English, please note the English language entry requirements.

The college operates a Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) scheme meaning that applicants who do not meet the normal academic requirements will be considered based on relevant work and other experience.

All students applying to NCI must have access to a laptop that will allow them to attend classes online and, where relevant, to participate in on-campus learning.

The minimal suitable configuration is:

Processor:

• Intel 7th (or higher) generation processors (Core i-3, ii-5, -7,i-9-7x)
• or AMD Ryzen 3rd generation processors, running at 2.0GHz and above (Intel Atom/Celeron or AMD Athlon/Sempron Processors may cost less, but may not meet your requirements)

Random Access Memory (RAM):

8 GB minimum

Solid State Drive (SSD) Capacity:

256 GB minimum

Wireless Card:

802.11 a/b/g/n compliant with Bluetooth Capability (incompatibilities have been noted with the Qualcomm Atheros Wireless Adapters and software device drivers)

Graphics Card:

Direct X9 or later

Supported Operating Systems:

Windows 10 Home/Pro

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure their computer is functioning correctly and that they have full administrator rights. NCI IT cannot provide support for these personal devices.

A Laptop Loan Scheme is available for eligible students to assist them in completing their chosen course.

Incoming students must undergo Garda Vetting. Garda Vetting is part of the admissions process. Garda Vetting applications must be submitted to NCI prior to commencing the programme.

The completed Vetting Invitation Form (NVB1) and supporting documentation must be submitted as soon as an application is completed. Download our Guidelines on the Garda Vetting Process for further information.

Programme offers will remain conditional until part 1 of the Garda Vetting process is completed.

This is an online programme.

Please note that exams can be scheduled during the morning, afternoon or evening Monday to Saturday.

12 weeks.

€1,200

(Fees revised annually)

You can spread the cost of this course with a direct debit plan.