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About the course
Develop early-years curriculum planning and teaching practice. You will connect child development, play, language and mathematics with observation, inclusion and reflective professional work.
What you'll learn
- Plan coherent early-years learning experiences.
- Explain concepts through play and guided activity.
- Use observation to assess learning sensitively.
- Adapt resources for differing needs.
- Evaluate teaching with a mentor and supporting evidence.
Requirements
- Entry requires a relevant National Certificate or A Level subjects in the field. English Language is required. A completed National Diploma may support second-year entry to a related degree only after BMIT approves module equivalence and any professional requirements.
- Programme-specific checksHave prior qualifications, subject knowledge and intended teaching phase assessed by BMIT. Confirm the awarding body, professional route and supervised school access before enrolment.
- African Kalanga is a compulsory graduation subject in every year of this programme. BMIT confirms the approved entry route, any recognition of prior learning and access to required practical facilities before enrolment.
Course content
Sections: 4
•Activities: 1
•Resources: 28
Subjects in this programme
The complete subject sequence below moves from foundations to specialist application. Stages show learning progression. Practical work and the final project draw together the subjects studied.
22 subjects are listed below, with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Foundations
- Academic Literacy and Study Practice. Develop the reading, writing and evidence skills needed for study. You will examine reading strategies, argument structure, academic paragraphs. Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.
- Digital Business Skills. Use everyday digital tools to organise business information accurately. You will build reliable spreadsheets, manage documents and share work responsibly. Activities address uneven connectivity, accessible communication and the protection of personal information in small organisations and public offices.
- Foundations of Education. Connect educational purposes with classroom practice and social context. You will examine educational aims, philosophy of education, historical change. Write a reasoned teaching philosophy using a school case.
- Child Development. Examine development across early and middle childhood in context. You will examine physical development, language development, social relationships. Prepare an observation framework and developmental support activity.
- Child Protection and Professional Conduct. Recognise learner-welfare concerns and follow appropriate procedures. You will examine professional boundaries, child protection, consent. Complete a safeguarding case analysis using approved institutional procedures.
- Educational Psychology. Use learning and development theories to explain classroom observations. You will examine learning theories, motivation, cognition. Analyse an anonymised learning case without making a clinical diagnosis.
Stage 2: Core subjects
- Early Childhood Care, Nutrition and Safety. Plan routines supporting young children's care and participation. You will examine daily routines, nutrition, hygiene. Prepare a centre routine and care-environment checklist.
- Play-Based Early Learning. Organise purposeful play around children's developmental needs. You will examine play environments, exploration, language in play. Create a play-based learning area and observation record.
- Emergent Literacy. Support reading and writing foundations through language-rich learning. You will examine oral storytelling, print awareness, listening. Create a story sequence using TjiKalanga or another home language alongside English.
- Early Mathematical Learning. Develop early mathematical ideas through everyday situations. You will examine counting, comparison, sorting. Prepare guided early-mathematics activities with observation prompts.
- Families and Early Childhood Communities. Build respectful relationships between learning settings and families. You will examine family diversity, home languages, communication. Develop a family engagement and school-transition plan.
- Inclusive Practice in Early Childhood. Develop early identification, accessible play and family support. Use the foundation principles in more demanding teaching cases and evaluate the resulting learner evidence.
- Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood. Develop play observation, learning records and developmental feedback. Use the foundation principles in more demanding teaching cases and evaluate the resulting learner evidence.
- Early Childhood Centre Management. Coordinate a centre's learning, staffing and administrative work. You will examine centre planning, staff roles, resources. Prepare a centre operating plan and improvement priorities.
- Lesson Planning and Facilitation. Plan lessons with clear learner actions and evidence of learning. You will examine learning outcomes, prior knowledge, instruction sequence. Teach a short lesson and revise the plan from learner responses.
- Educational Assessment. Design fair assessments and use results to guide teaching. You will examine assessment purpose, task design, marking criteria. Produce an assessment task, rubric and feedback plan.
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
- Teaching Practice I: Observation and Assisted Teaching. Connect coursework with supervised observation and supported lessons. You will examine school induction, observation, lesson preparation. Complete supervised observation and assisted teaching with an authenticated portfolio.
- Teaching Practice II: Guided Classroom Teaching. Take greater responsibility for a supervised teaching sequence. You will examine unit planning, classroom teaching, assessment. Teach a short unit and analyse learner progress with a mentor.
- Classroom Action Research. Investigate a teaching problem through an ethical enquiry cycle. You will examine problem identification, evidence review, action planning. Conduct an approved classroom enquiry using anonymised evidence.
African History and Pan Africanism
- African History and Pan Africanism 101 (Level 1, compulsory core module): Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201 (Level 2, compulsory core module): Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.
- African History and Pan Africanism 301 (Level 3, compulsory core module): Evaluate the legacy of Pan Africanism in continental and regional cooperation, culture and public life. Apply historical inquiry to a heritage, community or professional issue, recognising both achievements and contested interpretations.
Assessment and practical learning
- Curriculum and activity-design tasks.
- Assessment and resource portfolios.
- Observed teaching and reflective review.
Practical application
Undertake proposed supervised early-years teaching. Plan a sequence, gather appropriate observation evidence and revise your teaching with mentor feedback.
African History and Pan Africanism practical learning
- African History and Pan Africanism 101: Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201: Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
- African History and Pan Africanism 301: Prepare a sourced heritage or civic-learning project connected with your field or a Southern African community. Explain its historical basis, audience, permission needs and limits. Obtain consent if you conduct interviews.
Subject descriptions
Each subject below includes its purpose, learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment approach.
Academic Literacy and Study Practice
Stage 1: Foundations
Develop the reading, writing and evidence skills needed for study. You will examine reading strategies, argument structure, academic paragraphs. Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain reading strategies in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between argument structure and academic paragraphs.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing referencing, information checking and study planning.
Main topics
- Reading strategies
- Argument structure
- Academic paragraphs
- Referencing
- Information checking
- Study planning
Practical task
Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Digital Business Skills
Stage 1: Foundations
Use everyday digital tools to organise business information accurately. You will build reliable spreadsheets, manage documents and share work responsibly. Activities address uneven connectivity, accessible communication and the protection of personal information in small organisations and public offices.
Learning outcomes
- Build a checked spreadsheet
- Organise retrievable business documents
- Apply appropriate access permissions
Main topics
- File organisation
- Word processing
- Spreadsheet formulas
- Presentations
- Collaborative working
- Privacy and access
Practical task
Create a shared office information pack with formulas, document versions and access instructions.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Foundations of Education
Stage 1: Foundations
Connect educational purposes with classroom practice and social context. You will examine educational aims, philosophy of education, historical change. Write a reasoned teaching philosophy using a school case.
Learning outcomes
- Explain educational aims in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between philosophy of education and historical change.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing school systems, professional identity and reflection.
Main topics
- Educational aims
- Philosophy of education
- Historical change
- School systems
- Professional identity
- Reflection
Practical task
Write a reasoned teaching philosophy using a school case.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Child Development
Stage 1: Foundations
Examine development across early and middle childhood in context. You will examine physical development, language development, social relationships. Prepare an observation framework and developmental support activity.
Learning outcomes
- Explain physical development in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between language development and social relationships.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing emotional regulation, play and family context.
Main topics
- Physical development
- Language development
- Social relationships
- Emotional regulation
- Play
- Family context
Practical task
Prepare an observation framework and developmental support activity.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Child Protection and Professional Conduct
Stage 1: Foundations
Recognise learner-welfare concerns and follow appropriate procedures. You will examine professional boundaries, child protection, consent. Complete a safeguarding case analysis using approved institutional procedures.
Learning outcomes
- Explain professional boundaries in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between child protection and consent.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing confidentiality, reporting pathways and record keeping.
Main topics
- Professional boundaries
- Child protection
- Consent
- Confidentiality
- Reporting pathways
- Record keeping
Practical task
Complete a safeguarding case analysis using approved institutional procedures.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Educational Psychology
Stage 1: Foundations
Use learning and development theories to explain classroom observations. You will examine learning theories, motivation, cognition. Analyse an anonymised learning case without making a clinical diagnosis.
Learning outcomes
- Explain learning theories in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between motivation and cognition.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing individual differences, emotional development and classroom applications.
Main topics
- Learning theories
- Motivation
- Cognition
- Individual differences
- Emotional development
- Classroom applications
Practical task
Analyse an anonymised learning case without making a clinical diagnosis.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Early Childhood Care, Nutrition and Safety
Stage 2: Core subjects
Plan routines supporting young children's care and participation. You will examine daily routines, nutrition, hygiene. Prepare a centre routine and care-environment checklist.
Learning outcomes
- Explain daily routines in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between nutrition and hygiene.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing safe environments, rest and caregiver communication.
Main topics
- Daily routines
- Nutrition
- Hygiene
- Safe environments
- Rest
- Caregiver communication
Practical task
Prepare a centre routine and care-environment checklist.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Play-Based Early Learning
Stage 2: Core subjects
Organise purposeful play around children's developmental needs. You will examine play environments, exploration, language in play. Create a play-based learning area and observation record.
Learning outcomes
- Explain play environments in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between exploration and language in play.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing early numeracy, social interaction and observation.
Main topics
- Play environments
- Exploration
- Language in play
- Early numeracy
- Social interaction
- Observation
Practical task
Create a play-based learning area and observation record.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Emergent Literacy
Stage 2: Core subjects
Support reading and writing foundations through language-rich learning. You will examine oral storytelling, print awareness, listening. Create a story sequence using TjiKalanga or another home language alongside English.
Learning outcomes
- Explain oral storytelling in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between print awareness and listening.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing sound awareness, early writing and home literacy.
Main topics
- Oral storytelling
- Print awareness
- Listening
- Sound awareness
- Early writing
- Home literacy
Practical task
Create a story sequence using TjiKalanga or another home language alongside English.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Early Mathematical Learning
Stage 2: Core subjects
Develop early mathematical ideas through everyday situations. You will examine counting, comparison, sorting. Prepare guided early-mathematics activities with observation prompts.
Learning outcomes
- Explain counting in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between comparison and sorting.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing pattern, shape and spatial language.
Main topics
- Counting
- Comparison
- Sorting
- Pattern
- Shape
- Spatial language
Practical task
Prepare guided early-mathematics activities with observation prompts.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Families and Early Childhood Communities
Stage 2: Core subjects
Build respectful relationships between learning settings and families. You will examine family diversity, home languages, communication. Develop a family engagement and school-transition plan.
Learning outcomes
- Explain family diversity in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between home languages and communication.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing participation, community resources and transition to school.
Main topics
- Family diversity
- Home languages
- Communication
- Participation
- Community resources
- Transition to school
Practical task
Develop a family engagement and school-transition plan.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Inclusive Practice in Early Childhood
Stage 2: Core subjects
Develop early identification, accessible play and family support. Use the foundation principles in more demanding teaching cases and evaluate the resulting learner evidence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain learning barriers in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between universal design and differentiation.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing assistive resources, referral and family collaboration.
Main topics
- Early identification
- Accessible play and family support
- Assistive resources
- Referral
- Family collaboration
Practical task
Plan, teach and evaluate a supervised activity focused on early identification, accessible play and family support.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood
Stage 2: Core subjects
Develop play observation, learning records and developmental feedback. Use the foundation principles in more demanding teaching cases and evaluate the resulting learner evidence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain assessment purpose in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between task design and marking criteria.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing feedback, moderation and use of results.
Main topics
- Play observation
- Learning records and developmental feedback
- Feedback
- Moderation
- Use of results
Practical task
Plan, teach and evaluate a supervised activity focused on play observation, learning records and developmental feedback.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Early Childhood Centre Management
Stage 2: Core subjects
Coordinate a centre's learning, staffing and administrative work. You will examine centre planning, staff roles, resources. Prepare a centre operating plan and improvement priorities.
Learning outcomes
- Explain centre planning in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between staff roles and resources.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing records, family services and quality review.
Main topics
- Centre planning
- Staff roles
- Resources
- Records
- Family services
- Quality review
Practical task
Prepare a centre operating plan and improvement priorities.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Lesson Planning and Facilitation
Stage 2: Core subjects
Plan lessons with clear learner actions and evidence of learning. You will examine learning outcomes, prior knowledge, instruction sequence. Teach a short lesson and revise the plan from learner responses.
Learning outcomes
- Explain learning outcomes in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between prior knowledge and instruction sequence.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing learning activities, questioning and closure.
Main topics
- Learning outcomes
- Prior knowledge
- Instruction sequence
- Learning activities
- Questioning
- Closure
Practical task
Teach a short lesson and revise the plan from learner responses.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Educational Assessment
Stage 2: Core subjects
Design fair assessments and use results to guide teaching. You will examine assessment purpose, task design, marking criteria. Produce an assessment task, rubric and feedback plan.
Learning outcomes
- Explain assessment purpose in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between task design and marking criteria.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing feedback, moderation and use of results.
Main topics
- Assessment purpose
- Task design
- Marking criteria
- Feedback
- Moderation
- Use of results
Practical task
Produce an assessment task, rubric and feedback plan.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Teaching Practice I: Observation and Assisted Teaching
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Connect coursework with supervised observation and supported lessons. You will examine school induction, observation, lesson preparation. Complete supervised observation and assisted teaching with an authenticated portfolio.
Learning outcomes
- Explain school induction in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between observation and lesson preparation.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing assisted teaching, mentor feedback and reflection.
Main topics
- School induction
- Observation
- Lesson preparation
- Assisted teaching
- Mentor feedback
- Reflection
Practical task
Complete supervised observation and assisted teaching with an authenticated portfolio.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Teaching Practice II: Guided Classroom Teaching
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Take greater responsibility for a supervised teaching sequence. You will examine unit planning, classroom teaching, assessment. Teach a short unit and analyse learner progress with a mentor.
Learning outcomes
- Explain unit planning in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between classroom teaching and assessment.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing adaptation, mentoring and reflective revision.
Main topics
- Unit planning
- Classroom teaching
- Assessment
- Adaptation
- Mentoring
- Reflective revision
Practical task
Teach a short unit and analyse learner progress with a mentor.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Classroom Action Research
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Investigate a teaching problem through an ethical enquiry cycle. You will examine problem identification, evidence review, action planning. Conduct an approved classroom enquiry using anonymised evidence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem identification in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between evidence review and action planning.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing classroom evidence, evaluation and revision.
Main topics
- Problem identification
- Evidence review
- Action planning
- Classroom evidence
- Evaluation
- Revision
Practical task
Conduct an approved classroom enquiry using anonymised evidence.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
African History and Pan Africanism 101
Compulsory core module · Level 1
Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.
Learning outcomes
- Place selected African societies and events within a supported historical timeline.
- Compare historical sources and identify perspective, evidence and uncertainty.
- Explain the foundations of Pan Africanism and the contributions of Africans and the diaspora.
Main topics
- Historical inquiry, chronology, oral traditions and source evaluation
- African civilisations, states, trade, livelihoods and knowledge systems
- Southern African history, including Mapungubgwe and Great Zimbabwe
- Slavery, the African diaspora and changing ideas about identity
- Origins of Pan Africanism, solidarity, self-determination and cultural expression
Practical task
Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
Assessment
Submit the timeline or poster, an annotated source list and a short explanation of the evidence. Assessment considers chronology, historical accuracy, source judgement and the clarity of your interpretation.
Learning resources
African History and Pan Africanism 201
Compulsory core module · Level 2
Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse the effects of colonial rule on land, labour, institutions and social relations.
- Compare liberation movements and Pan African arguments using contextual evidence.
- Explain how different groups shaped independence, solidarity and debates about freedom.
Main topics
- Colonial rule, land, labour, education and forms of resistance
- Nationalism, liberation and the end of colonial rule and apartheid
- Pan African congresses, organisations and contrasting interpretations
- Women, labour movements and diaspora participation
- The Organisation of African Unity and debates about unity, sovereignty and development
Practical task
Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
Assessment
Submit the case study, a source comparison and a reflection on your conclusions. Assessment considers context, evidence, recognition of different perspectives and the quality of your argument.
Learning resources
African History and Pan Africanism 301
Compulsory core module · Level 3
Evaluate the legacy of Pan Africanism in continental and regional cooperation, culture and public life. Apply historical inquiry to a heritage, community or professional issue, recognising both achievements and contested interpretations.
Learning outcomes
- Evaluate continuity and change from the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union.
- Assess a contemporary Pan African issue using historical evidence and contrasting views.
- Develop an ethical, well-sourced project connecting African history with your field or community.
Main topics
- The African Union, regional cooperation and Southern African integration
- Agenda 2063, development and debates about continental priorities
- Citizenship, migration, diaspora connections and cultural exchange
- African knowledge, heritage, public history and contested narratives
- Research ethics, source attribution and evaluation of a community or professional project
Practical task
Prepare a sourced heritage or civic-learning project connected with your field or a Southern African community. Explain its historical basis, audience, permission needs and limits. Obtain consent if you conduct interviews.
Assessment
Submit a project brief, an annotated source portfolio, a public-facing learning resource and an evaluation of your interpretation. Assessment considers evidence, ethical practice, historical reasoning and usefulness to the intended audience.
Learning resources
Instructors
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National Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Course modified date: 13 October 2026
Develop early-years curriculum planning and teaching practice. You will connect child development, play, language and mathematics with observation, inclusion and reflective professional work.
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