PDA Childhood Practice (Level 9)
- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 9
- Start Date
- 28 Aug 2023
- Qualification Type
- PDA
- Course Type
- Evening
- Duration
- 2 Years (August to June)
Applications open January 2024
This course is designed to support and develop your knowledge and skills in leadership and management for working in a Childhood Practice setting such as a childcare or playwork setting, family support or youthwork services with children or young people.
You will be able to lead and support the provision of high quality and flexible services that will give children and young people the best possible start in life, and demonstrate leadership and vision to contribute to the development of the profession.
It meets the Benchmark Standards for Childhood Practice and registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as a Lead Practitioner or Manager.
The course is delivered as a part-time evening class on-campus over two years.
What will I learn?
The complete PDA Childhood Practice: Leadership and Management is worth 360 SCQF credits at Levels 7, 8 and 9 and is an alternative route to the degree level Childhood Practice award.
Course content
- Developing services for children and young people
- Participatory partnerships: Working with families
- Children’s rights: Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Childhood practice: Leadership and management and workplace practice
Plus three mandatory optional units from the following areas:
- Developing a rights-based approach to service delivery
- Development of children (Pre-birth to three)
- Early learning
- Playwork
- Family support
- Active leisure
- Leading professional development.
The course is delivered part-time evening class on-campus over two academic years. You will be expected to attend College campus for one evening each week from 6.30pm to 9.30pm, with additional learning opportunities on the College virtual learning environment, Canvas.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- entry to the PDA in Childhood Practice at SCQF Level 9 is through Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience (RPLE)
- you should already have qualifications in the sector that allow registration by the SSSC as a Practitioner at SCQF Level 7 and have relevant qualifications at SCQF Level 8.
- To undertake this PDA you must meet the entry requirements of 240 credits at SCQF Levels 7 and 8.
Entry requirements equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area, for example the PDA Plus Childhood Practice at SCQF Level 8.
Employer and industry links
The focus of the PDA in Childhood Practice: Leadership and Management is on leading learning and on supporting the development of workers in the sector. The qualification enables you to demonstrate that you have the professional knowledge, skills and values required of managers/lead practitioners in the childhood practice services.
The work based learning and assessment require clear and robust arrangements for co-operation between the workplace, the learner, their mentor and the College.
Jobs and further study
This qualification will allow you to work as a Leader or Manager and meet the requirements of the Benchmark Standards for Childhood Practice and registration with the SSSC as Lead Practitioner/Manager.
The PDA Childhood Practice at SCQF Level 9 may provide evidence or underpinning of knowledge for further leadership and management qualifications.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application and will be in contact as per the following stages:
- Selection will be by assessment of qualifications and interview
- If you meet the entry requirements you will be invited for interview
- The process will consist of an individual interview with a member of the lecturing team. You will be required to bring evidence of qualifications and an academic reference to interview. During the interview, you will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the course and the college.
Interviews will take place from late April.
Selection outcomes are based upon careful consideration of interview performance, qualifications and/or relevant work experience. One of three selection outcomes will be made for you and will be sent by email within 10 working days of the interview.
The selection outcomes are ‘unconditional offer’; ‘conditional offer’, or ‘unsuccessful’. Any conditions to your offer will be clearly outlined in this email.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 10 working days or risk losing your place.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent further information relating to student funding in June with joining instructions and induction information in mid-July.
You must accept your offer as soon as possible in order to secure your place.
If you are made a conditional offer, you must provide the required evidence (qualifications, references or other details) as soon as it is available or risk losing your place.
This course involves a placement element which requires that you if successful are entered into the PVG scheme administered by Disclosure Scotland. Both the placement and the PVG check will be organised (and PVG costs met) by the college. This check will be carried out before undertaking work experience. If you have offences that may be recorded on a Disclosure Scotland check, you should discuss this with staff at interview.
For up to date information on the fees and costs for this course, please use the Course Enquiry button or Course Contact.
You may be eligible to apply for a part-time fee grant from Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for the courses at SCQF Level 7, 8 and 9. For more information, contact SAAS.