New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) [Version 2]

The programme is offered nationwide which means you can study with us from wherever you are in New Zealand. This is a great way to build an early childhood career and will set you up well for further study towards an early childhood teaching degree. You do not need to work in an early childhood service while studying although this will be helpful and is recommended.

 Graduates of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge to work as early childhood educators in a range of early childhood contexts, such as centre-based, hospital-based (play specialist assistant), home-based, nanny, parent-led, or culturally-based contexts including Pasifika or Māori.

What you will learn:

When you achieve this qualification you will know how to:

• Engage in early childhood education practices which reflect Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi and the place of Māori as tangata whenua.
• Apply knowledge of key early childhood teaching, learning and development theories and approaches, and historical influences, to inform and guide practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Implement the philosophy, principles, and practices embodied in Te Whāriki, and supporting resources, to promote children’s learning.
• Provide a healthy, safe, and inclusive environment for the protection, care, wellbeing and education of children/mokopuna as guided by legislative and regulatory requirements and children’s rights (UNCROC).
• Communicate effectively and include cultural protocols, whanaungatanga, and manaakitanga concepts, to develop and maintain inclusive and collaborative relationships with a wide range of people in an early childhood education and care community.
• Manage personal wellbeing and engage in the personal, professional, ethical and reflective practices required of an early childhood educator.
• Support children’s language, culture and identity, through the application of emerging knowledge of cultural competence, with consideration of diverse families and aspirations for their children’s learning.
• Use knowledge of philosophies, perspectives and contexts of early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand, including contemporary Māori and Pasifika education developments and implications for practice, to inform an emerging personal philosophy of practice.

Learner Story

Programme Delivery

You will access courses online with academic support from academic staff members. Contact with your academic staff members and other students will occur at regional workshops, noho marae, tutorials and during practicums over the course of your study.

Workshop & noho marae Schedule

October 2024 workshop schedule

Noho Marae

In this programme you will attend a 2 day overnight stay on an urban or rural marae. Attending a noho marae will give you the opportunity to build skills and knowledge needed to teach in a bi-cultural context.

For ākonga enrolled in Tō Tātou Tiriti courses below are the details for noho marae offered in the second half of 2024. Please note that while these dates and venues are confirmed, a change might occasionally be required:

• 03-04 August – Ara Marae, Te Kura Wanaka, Christchurch
• 10-11 August – Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae, UNITEC, Auckland
• 17-18 August – Puketeraki Marae, Karitane, Dunedin
• 07-08 September – Ōrongomai Marae, Upper Hutt, Wellington
• 21-22 September – Maungatapu Marae, Tauranga 

If you enrol in a course starting in September or October 2024 that has a noho marae as a compulsory course requirement you will not be able to complete the course until after the course end date. You will be awarded a Grade Pending result until you have attended a noho marae in April/May 2025.

Please note that a Grade Pending result will not satisfy any pre-requisite requirements, you must have a pass grade before you have met the pre-requisite.

Practicum

During the Professional Practice 1 (EDU508) course you will gain teaching experience through a five-week practicum at an approved licensed Early Childhood Setting. This offers you the opportunity to work alongside children and qualified early childhood teachers to integrate your learning in relation to everyday teaching experiences. During your practicum placement you are required to actively participate for 30 hours per week (6 hours a day) in the routines of the early childhood centre.

Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) FAQs

Maximum Programme Completion Time 

To be awarded the qualification, the programme must be completed in no more than 3 years of first enrolment, unless there are exceptional circumstances.