As of September 2022, pay rates for childcare workers increased.  Early Years Educators and SAC Practitioners hourly rate of pay varies by age, experience, and position. The rate of pay for Early Years Educators and SAC Practitioners is €13.00 per hour and €14.00 per hour for Early Years Lead Educators.

The following rate of salary is in relation to Early Years Educators and School Age Childcare (SAC) Practitioners.

The purpose of Early Years Educator is to provide support in full time day care. To be a member of the daycare team and to lead, watch over, encourage, and monitor kids in a secure and nurturing setting. He/she works in partnership with the early years team, families, and professions throughout the role.

Completing a QQI Level 6 Childcare qualification may be necessary if you want to progress to a more senior position in your career. Some employers may prefer a Level 6, so it would give you an advantage when securing employment. Additionally, obtaining a QQI Childcare Level 6 indicates a level of expertise and knowledge in the field of childcare.

The modules in QQI Level 6 Childcare are Sociology and Social Policy in ELC, Effective Leadership within ELC, Advanced Professional Practice, Inclusion, Equality and Diversity in ELC, Advanced Child Development and Curriculum and Pedagogy.

The Level 6 Early Learning and Care programme includes of 12 compulsory modules, six at stage 1 (Level 5) and six at stage 2 (level 6), enabling the learner to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies required to work as an autonomous Early Years Educator and/or Lead Educator in an Early Learning and Care setting, and take responsibility for an area or room, leading and coordinating the provision of a quality Early Learning and Care environment. A level 6 blended learning (online with some face-to-face days).

More generally, with regards to QQI Level 6, the Outline National Framework of Qualifications state, “Learning outcomes at this level include a comprehensive range of skills which may be vocationally-specific and/or of a general supervisory nature, and require detailed theoretical understanding. The outcomes also provide for a particular focus on learning skills. The outcomes relate to working in a generally autonomous way to assume design and/or management and/or administrative responsibilities. Occupations at this level would include higher craft, junior technician and supervisor”.  Click here to read more.

WHAT IS A QQI LEVEL 5 IN IRELAND?

QQI stands for Quality and Qualifications. QQI incorporates the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC); the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC); the Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB) and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI).

The purpose of QQI is.

1. 1. Awarding and regulating qualifications: QQI is responsible for providing an extensive framework for all the qualifications in Ireland. QQI guarantees qualifications fulfil necessary standards and provides international established framework.
   2. Quality Assurance: In Ireland, all stages of education and training providers are developed and implemented with the assistance of QQI.
   3. Validation of education and training programs: QQI authenticates programs offered by education and training providers.
   4. Recognition of foreign qualifications: QQI offers advice and assessment services for individuals seeking to have international qualifications recognized.

QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) Level 5 indicates a certain level of knowledge and skill in a particular subject area. It’s part of the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), which encompasses all qualifications in Ireland and aligns them based on their complexity and learning outcomes. These qualifications can provide learners with a foundation in a specific area of study or prepare them for entry-level positions in different industries. Examples of some QQI Level 5 qualifications include healthcare support, business studies, IT, childcare, special needs assistant.

The QQI Level 5 highlights vocational skills and requires a high understanding of theory. Determinations for the Outline National Framework of Qualifications state “Learning outcomes at this level include a broad range of skills that require some theoretical understanding. The outcomes may relate to engaging in a specific activity, with the capacity to use the instruments and techniques relating to an occupation. They are associated with work being undertaken independently, subject to general direction”: Click here to read more.