This Quality Mark pathway in Holistic Baby and Child Care has been designed to run along side the nationally accredited Level 3 EYE Diploma in Holistic Baby and Child Care. As a participant on the Quality Mark Pathway you will be attending the course alongside the Level 3 EYE Diploma participants.
Join us on this groundbreaking Crossfields Institute Quality Mark course based on Steiner/Waldorf with an introduction to the Pikler approach to child development, play and care with a birth to three emphasis.
Click here for Dorothy Marlen’s report on her visit to Steiner early childhood nurseries in Europe
If you are interested in the Holistic Baby and Childcare Training and would like the opportunity to meet our Course Leader, find out more about the course, ask questions and meet other potential participants, we will be holding the following FREE ZOOM TASTER sessions:
If you would prefer a one-to-one discussion with a tutor prior to applying for the course, please contact the registrar.
Holistic Steiner/Waldorf and Pikler combined approaches have influenced early childhood care around the world, providing exemplary pratice in both Steiner/Waldorf and mainstream settings. Steiner/Waldorf practices fully support the physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual development of the child. They focus on the power of imitation, rhythm and age appropriate sensory and creative experiences.
The Pikler approach provides exemplary practical skills to support respectful conscious partnerships with young children, particularly during times of care, and self -intiated natural movement development and play.
The programme is designed for Childcare professionals who have a Level 3 or equivalent required qualification in early childhood care, who wish to expand their knowledge and experience in the Steiner/ Waldorf and Pikler approaches to early childhood care and parental support. It provides a depth of understanding and practical foundation for those wishing to work in Steiner settings and mainstream, focusing upon the development and care of children up to five years old, with an emphasis on the crucial first three year.
The course also prepares parent and child group leaders, child-minders, play group leaders, parenting course leaders and carers of children up to three years old.
Students and tutors on the last residential 2022 wearing the story aprons students had made.
Caring for young children and supporting parents requires many skills – a thorough understanding of child development and respectful practical care; confidence in a variety of artistic, craft-making and home-making activities; observational and self-reflective abilities; a capacity for working sensitively with parents and other professionals, and a clear understanding of EYFS, effective child assessment and working with statutory requirements. The units will weave together to provide a firm foundation for continued personal and professional growth and development.
What does the Quality Mark Include?
This training will provide you with confidence and practical skills to care for young children. There will be an emphasis on the care of children from birth to three. You will gain confidence to create “home from home” and outdoor settings which respect the young child’s need for warm relationships, a calm and rhythmical day and lots of play. It will give you tools for working with and supporting parents.
If you are a carer in a nursery or day-care setting or wish to develop your own a holistic child care setting
The advantage of this Quality Mark training is that you will bring to your setting a coherent body of awareness and skills based on Steiner pedagogy and the Pikler approach which will enhance your professional work. We introduce several holistic models for childcare including the “home from home” approach from Lifeways North America, Helle Heckmann’s Nokken, and Awhina from New Zealand.
As well as preparing you to work as a parent and child/baby group leader in Steiner and mainstream settings, the Quality Mark will give you the breadth and depth of skills and confidence to care for young children and support parents in Steiner and mainstream settings, if you so wish. We bring an understanding of pioneering parent and baby groups which have integrated the Pikler approach and outdoor groups.
Successful completion of the course, 100 hours placement and required presentations, practical exercises and reflective journal will lead to a Quality Mark Certificate from Crossfields Institute.
Below is the provisional timetable where during term time there will be online teaching sessions with meetings on Wednesdays 19:00 – 21:00 and Saturdays 15:00 – 17:00. Key dates are as follows:
27 September 2025 – course starts at Steiner House London (9-5pm)
27 October – 3 November – half term
29 December to 10 January 2026 – Christmas break
10 January 2026 – course day at Steiner House London (9-5pm)
23 February to 2 March – half term
28 March to 2 April – Easter break
5 to 8 June – Summer residential at Emerson College (2 pm Friday to 4.30pm Monday)
11 July – 12 September – Summer break
12 September 2026 – course day at Steiner House (London 9-5pm)
26 October to 4 November – half term
28 November to 9 January 2027 – Christmas break
9 January 2027 course day at Steiner House London (9-5pm)
26 February to 1 March 2027 – Early spring residential at Emerson College (2pm Friday to 4.30pm Monday)
1 March – course finishes
*N.B. Students applying from abroad can choose not to join the course for the day events at Rudolf Steiner House but will need to attend at least one of the residentials at Emerson College. Recordings and tutorials will provide necessary information.
Please contact the registrar to confirm course fees.
This includes the course registration with Crossfields Institute, the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship and the Association of Steiner Waldorf Teachers and Educators. (ASWTE).
Payment can be made in full at the beginning of the course or paid in installments with a £100 admin fee.
Bursaries are available from Emerson College. For the bursary form, please contact Chiara Carones, registrar@emerson.org.uk
Grants for tuition fees are available from the Rudolf Steiner Association. A Grant request can be sent only after having been accepted into the course. For full info, please contact Chiara Carones, registrar@emerson.org.uk
Interest free loans for tuition fees are available from the Godparents Anthroposophical Training Fund. For full info, please contact Chiara Carones, registrar@emerson.org.uk
This Quality Mark pathway has a limit of 5 places and is open to UK and international participants. Applications will be considered in order of receipt.
We have a two step application process:
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
To complete your application you will need to have the following documents ready:
You will also need to provide contact details for someone you would chose to be your emergency contact, should you be accepted onto the course.
If you have any questions please contact Chiara Carones – registrar@emerson.org.uk.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Once your application has been received, you will be invited for an interview with the Course Leader, Dorothy Marlen, as a final step in the application process.
The interview provides both you and the Course Leader the opportunity to explore the course content, requirements and your motivations for attending. It will also give you a space for any questions you might have.