Graduate Certificate of Education (Early Childhood Studies)

This course is designed to provide qualified primary school teachers a recognised qualification in Early Childhood Education (Birth - 8 year olds).

The course is ACECQA registered and provides the content and pedagogical knowledge of the requirements to teach in the early years.

The course is also open to Early Childhood Teachers who would like to retrain for the ACECQA qualification for children from Birth - Pre-Primary age.

# Designated Unit - a Unit or Unit of Competency which a School has designated as a fundamental course requirement and may only be attempted once unless otherwise determined by Board of Examiners.

Admission requirement (Band 8)

• Bachelor degree in a cognate discipline; or
• Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience.

English Language requirement (Band 5)

Students must attain an IELTS Academic with an average level of 7.0 or more, across the four components of listening, speaking, reading and writing; no score below level 7.0 in any of these components. Note:

• If secondary education and degree studies were completed in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, applicants do not need to provide proof of English competency.
• Applicants who have completed their secondary education in South Africa in English and have an undergraduate degree taught in English from a South African University are deemed to have met English language requirements for entry to the Master of Teaching.

Course Specific Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to have a three-year or four-year primary teaching qualification, such as a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Studies), Bachelor of Education (Primary), or a Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary), with equivalents considered.

1. Demonstrate detailed specialised knowledge and understanding of early childhood development, pedagogy, learning frameworks, content and practices that enable the construction of effective early childhood curriculum for differentiated and engaged learning and teaching for all young children.
2. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the ethical, legislative, regulatory and policy requirements that guide high quality provision, leadership and review effective practice across a range of early childhood settings.
3. Ethically utilise a range of communication skills and technologies effectively in designing, evaluating and implementing innovative early childhood programs, reporting children's learning and engaging children, families and communities.
4. Work collaboratively and build positive sustainable relationships with children, colleagues, families and community stakeholders to broaden cultural competence and professional knowledge and practice.
5. Apply high order analytical, problem solving and integrative thinking skills with a high level of personal autonomy when applying early childhood knowledge and skills in undertaking research, policy development and teaching practice.
6. Articulate a personal philosophy of professional practice which reflects advocacy for children's rights and wellbeing.
7. Critically reflect using accredited standards, mentor feedback and the ECA Code of Ethics to demonstrate professional decision making and accountability in order to plan for continued collaborative and autonomous professional learning and development.