The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as an Early Childhood Development Practitioner. An Early Childhood Development Practitioner plans and prepares early childhood activities, facilitates, and mediates learning, observes, and assesses the progress of children, and reflects on learning in an inclusive, play based environment to support holistic development of children (from conception to four years of age) in different centre-based or non-centre-based settings. The qualification facilitates the all-round development of young children in a manner that is sensitive to culture and individual needs (including special needs) and teaches you to provide quality early childhood development services for children in a variety of contexts, including community-based services, ECD centres, at home and in institutions. This qualification also provides a basis for further professional development in the education and training band for many experienced practitioners in the field who have had limited or difficult access to further career development opportunities. On successful completion practitioners will generally carry out their role under the supervision of a qualified ECD NQF Level 5 Practitioner and with the support of designed ECD programmes