CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education

After completing the CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education at Aylesbury College in 2007, Rakhee Patel is now studying for a BA Honours Degree in Early Childhood Studies at Northampton University.

"Rakhee has already had lots of positive feedback on the work she has completed to date. She is so passionate and enthusiastic and says the DCE has really helped to support the academic work she is doing at uni." - Rakhee's College Tutor, Teresa Stroud

"Initially I was quite interested in doing the early years QTS which would allow me to become a primary school teacher," says Rakhee, "but most of the uni's I applied to wanted me to have an A Level in a National Curriculum subject. After looking into it further, I realised that the Early Childhood studies degree was actually a much better option as it gives you a wider range of career options afterwards. And if you still decide you want to go into teaching, you can do the PGCE which can be completed in about nine months."

Rakhee admits that the university application process can be confusing as each one has different entry requirements. "Most uni’s give talks which are worth going to as you can get a better idea of what the course involves. But I was also lucky to have a really supportive tutor. Teresa really helped me as she knew my strengths and weaknesses and understands the sort of things universities need to know when submitting my profile and forms."

Shortly after beginning her degree, Rakhee decided that teacher training wasn't for her. "I did work experience at play schemes when I was in year 11 at school, as I studied child development at GCSE. I loved it, but wanted to keep my options open in case I did decide to go into teaching." Now Rakhee has some very clear ambitions, and is keen to achieve Early Years Professional Status once she has finished her degree. "I’ve decided I want to manage a nursery setting, with children aged 0-5. I'm lucky to have done a lot of work experience in different types of settings for my DCE, including a school. Before that, I studied Child Development at GCSE. This has given me a much better idea of how different settings work so I know what sort of thing I want to get into when I finish university."

As part of her placement for her degree, Rakhee completed a placement working with toddlers at her local Sure Start centre. Having never visited one before, she says it was "really different to see they way they work compared with private nurseries."
Action Kids was among the innovative activities organised by the Centre, and Rakhee was so keen to see a session that she was able to change her placement hours so she could be there. "The week I went, the children did a lion king session, dressed up as animals as they moved around to music. It was lovely to watch!" Rakhee's placement at the centre also helped her develop an understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the things that settings can do to demonstrate they are using the framework. "It was interesting because they did things like film the children during their play sessions and gave the parents the videos to watch afterwards," she says. The staff explained that by videoing the children, they were using the EYFS learning and development principles and showing how they observe children’s play. "Some of the parents were amazed to see how differently their children played with others compared to how they are at home!" she says.

Rakhee is continuing to build on her work experience whilst studying, and works for local playschemes during the school holidays. "Once I did my DCE, I was able to lead play activities rather than just be a play assistant. In the summer I led the arts and crafts activities at a playscheme which I really enjoyed. I'm going back in half term - this will be my 3rd year. It's good because I do something different every time. I even got involved in a family fun day."

The Early Childhood Studies degree at Northampton also provides students with the fantastic opportunity to go on an international placement. "I'm going to a nursery or school in Sweden," says Rakhee. "It will be really interesting as they don’t start school there until they're seven and they have totally different approaches to learning." Rakhee is clearly enjoying her studies and says she knows she made the right decision in choosing that particular degree over the QTS. "For me, it's more varied and interesting and means your options are more open when you finish. If I had done QTS I would have only been able to become a primary teacher. But now there are lots of things I can do- I am really looking forward to building my career!"

CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education
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