Childcare
New Directions College offers accredited Childcare courses from Level 1 to Level 3, fully accredited by City and Guilds.
Our learning offer is delivered via a blended teaching approach, work based and classroom based and aims to develop the knowledge and skills needed to learn about and work in supporting children’s’ care, play, learning and development in early education.
Our Childcare courses are work-based qualifications and so you will need to be employed or working voluntarily in an Early Years (Childcare) role to achieve the full qualification. You can study these qualifications independently or as part of an Apprenticeship standard.
City and Guilds work closely with industry experts and regulators including the Department for Education, employers and other key stakeholders. As a result their qualifications are highly valued by employers throughout England.
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Level 1 Award in Caring for Children
This qualification is suitable for anyone wanting to gain knowledge and skills in caring for children, however you must be 16 years old or over. This will allow you to learn, develop and practise the skills required for employment/or career progression in the childcare sector. This qualification is fully funded to those who are 19-24 years of age or those in receipt of universal credits. Sessions will take place at Whitley Children’s Centre.
Level 1 Award in Caring for Children – NDCCourseInformation23-24
Starting:
- Monday 18th September 2023 – 9:30 to 11:30
- Monday 4th March 2024 – 9:30 to 11:30
Course fee: £475*
*This course may be free of charge depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.
Level 2 Diploma in Early Years Practitioner
Early Years Educators are highly trained professionals who play a key role in ensuring that young children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. They work in a range of settings including full day care, children’s centres, pre-schools, reception classes and as childminders.
The City & Guilds qualification for the Early Years Practitioner (Early Years Educator) (Work-based) is mapped to the criteria for Early Years Educator qualifications, published by the National College for Teaching and Leadership. On completion learners will be able to work as Early Years Educators in England.
During this course, you will learn:
How to communicate effectively with children in a way that makes them feel valued
How to maintain positive relationships and environments for children
Become confident using the EYFS to establish learning and plan for next steps in development
How to support children with additional learning needs or disabilities
How to plan and implement effective and holistic learning opportunities and activities with children
Gain experience in a practical early years setting working with children under 5 years old
The importance of working in partnerships with parents and other professionals for the best outcomes of children
Safeguarding – the importance of identifying signs of abuse, reporting concerns and protecting children
Health and safety – creating a safe environment for children in early years and understanding childhood illness/injury.
Level 2 Diploma in Early Years Practitioner – NDCCourseInformation23-24
All sessions will take place at New Directions College South.
Starting:
- Thursday 14th September 2023 – 9:30 to 14:00
- Thursday 18th January 2024 – 9:30 to 14:00
Course fee: £2,012*
*This course could be free of charge depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us to see if you are eligible.
Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Early Years Educators are highly trained professionals who play a key role in ensuring that young children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. They work in a range of settings including full day care, children’s centres, pre-schools, reception classes and as childminders. They may either be working on their own or supervising others to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements set by Government for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old.
The City & Guilds qualification for the Early Years Practitioner (Early Years Educator) (Work-based) is mapped to the criteria for Early Years Educator qualifications, published by the National College for Teaching and Leadership. On completion learners will be able to work as Early Years Educators in England.
The requirement for Level 3 Early Years Educators to hold an approved English and mathematics qualification has been broadened to include other suitable level 2 qualifications, including Functional Skills. If you require English and mathematics qualifications, we will be able to provide Functional Skills or GCSEs free of charge.
The Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner (Early Years Educator) (Work Based) is ideal for learners who are age18+ or apprentices, as it is part of the current Early Years Educator apprenticeship (9062).
Learners interested in the Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner (Early Years Educator) (Work Based) will be required to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of early years education and care, including that they can support and promote children’s early education and development, plan and provide effective care, teaching and learning that enables children to progress and prepares them for school, make accurate and productive use of assessment, develop effective and informed practice, safeguard and promote the health, safety and welfare of children, work in partnership with the key person, colleagues, parents and/or carers or other professionals.
Compulsory topics include:
- child development
- professional development
- safeguarding children
- diversity, equality and inclusion
- positive behaviour and transitions
- working in partnership
- promoting children’s speech, language and communication
- theories underpinning practice
- supporting children’s activities.
What careers can this lead to?
The Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator (Work Based) is the recognised qualification for candidates wanting to work as Early Years Educators in England.
The content in the mandatory units fully meets the qualification criteria for qualifications for Early Years Educators set by the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL). The NCTL is responsible for defining the full and relevant qualifications that staff included in the specified ratios must hold.
Sessions will be held at New Directions South and will be a mix of online and classroom based delivery. You will also be observed and assessed in your work place.
Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Educator – NDCCourseInformation23-24
Starting: Flexible start. Please contact us for more details.
Course fee: This course could be free of charge depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us to see if you are eligible. Course fee if required to pay in full: £2598 which could be paid through an Advanced Learning Loan.
Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools (NCFE)
This 12 week course offers a knowledge based L1 qualification that will prepare you to work in a Support role within a school environment. Sessions will be delivered at South Reading Community Hub.
Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools – NDCCourseInformation23-24
Starting:
- Thursday 21st September 2023 – 9:30 to 12:30
- Thursday 7th March 2024 – 9:30 to 12:30
Course fee: £325*
*This course may be free of charge depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.
Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (Teaching Assistant) (City & Guilds)
This course is suitable for those who are already working (paid or un-paid) in a school and want a qualification that proves their skills and helps them to develop their career. Units covered will include:
- Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people (3 credits)
- Help improve own and team practice in schools (3 credits)
- Support children and young people’s positive behaviour (2 credits)
- Provide displays in schools (3 credits)
- Provide support for therapy sessions (2 credits).
In order to pass this course and gain full accreditation, you must be working (paid or un-paid) within a school environment. Your Tutor will need to conduct work-based assessments to make a judgement on your occupational competence. If you would like to complete this course, but do not currently have a work placement, please speak to us. Sessions will be delivered at South Reading Community Hub.
Level 2 Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools – NDCCourseInformation23-24
Starting:
- Wednesday 20th September 2023 – 9:30 to 13:30
- Wednesday 10th January 2024 – 9:30 to 13:30
Course fee: £1290*
*This course could be free depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.
Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (Teaching Assistant)
This course is ideal if you have completed Level 2 and have significant experience as a school support worker and wish to move into a more specialised role in administration, learning support and management. You will cover in more detail the following topics:
- Communication and professional relationships with children, young people and adults (2 credits)
- Understand how to safeguard the well-being of children and young people.
- Support learning activities (4 credits)
- Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people (2 credits)
- Support assessment for learning (4 credits).
In order to pass this course and gain full accreditation, you must be working (paid or un-paid) within a school environment. Your Tutor will need to conduct work-based assessments to make a judgement on your occupational competence.
Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools – NDCCourseInformation23-24
Starting:
- Tuesday 26th September 2023
Course fee: £1290*
*You may be eligible to apply for an advanced learning loan to pay for the course fee.
Level 3 Award in Education and Training (City & Guilds)
This qualification is for those who work, or want to work as teachers/trainers in the further education and skills sector, including those who are not in a teaching role, or who have just started a teaching role, and include Award-size qualifications for those who want a short qualification to enable them to make career choices.
The Level 3 Award in Education and Training is an introduction to teaching that will give an insight into the roles, responsibilities and relationships in education and training, how to plan and deliver inclusive teaching sessions and how to assess and give constructive feedback. All sessions will take place at South Reading Community Hub.
Level 3 Award in Education and Training – NDCCourseInformation23-24
Starting:
- Wednesday 11th October 2023 – 9:30 to 14:00
- Wednesday 6th March 2024 – 9:30 to 14:00
Course fee: £625*
*This course could be free depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.
Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement
This vocational course provides a pathway for learners to understand assessment and if required, qualify as an assessor. Learners who wish to achieve these units could be assessing competence or non-competence based learning, knowledge or skills. They will select the units and qualifications that meet the requirements of what they are assessing.
Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (A1) – NDCCourseInformation23-24
Starting: Flexible date. Contact us for more information.
Course fee: £754*
*This course could be free depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.
Charges for checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
If a fully funded learner needs a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to participate in learning, we will not charge them for this. If the learning is associated with the learner’s employment, their employer is responsible for carrying out and paying for this check.
Learners on courses that are not fully funded, including courses that are only co-funded, will have to pay a fee. This fee will include the levied charge for the check from the DBS service and a standard administration fee of £5 per check. Please contact us to discuss this further.