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Education and Training

New Directions College offers a varied range of accredited and no accredited courses in Childcare, Early Years, Education and Training.

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.

We also offer a range of qualifications in Teaching, Learning and Development and Learning support. The qualifications include the sub areas such as, Assessor and Quality Assurance, Education and Training and Learning Support.

Assessment Practice

Our Level 3 courses provide a pathway for you to understand assessment and if required, qualify as an assessor. You could be assessing competence or non-competence based learning, knowledge or skills. You will select the units and qualifications that meet the requirements of what you are assessing.

These courses are delivered through blended learning, including use of our virtual learning environment and e-portfolio system, attending online classes and workshops and also having direct 1:1 observations with your Tutor.

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Introduction To Working With Children

This short course is ideal for anyone new to the childcare or education sector and interested in exploring a future working with children. You’ll gain a basic understanding of the different roles available, the responsibilities involved, and the skills needed to work in early years or school settings. It’s the perfect starting point to help you decide if a career in this rewarding field is right for you. Sessions will take place at New Directions College.

Starting:

From 8th September 2026 to 8th December 2026
From 9th September 2026 to 9th December 2026
From 11th September 2026 to 11th December 2026

Course fee: £175*

*This course may be free of charge depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.

Introduction to Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs

This course introduces learners to supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in education settings. It covers a range of needs, including inclusive practice and communication. Learners will build confidence and develop skills for working with children, supporting progression to further study or entry-level roles, volunteering, or placements in schools and childcare settings.

Starting:

From 28th September 2026 to 7th December 2026
From 2nd October 2026 to 11th December 2026

Course fee: £139*

*This course may be free of charge depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.

Preparing for Supporting Teaching and Learning

This course is designed to prepare people for a career in an early years setting and be included in staff: child ratios. This qualification includes both knowledge and skills that meet Department of education Early Years Educator DfE ETE) criteria in full and is in line with early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Starting:

From 7th September 2026 to 19th October 2026
From 8th September 2026 to 20th October 2026
From 9th September 2026 to 21st October 2026

Course fee: £103*

*This course may be free of charge depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.

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.

This course will be delivered face to face at New Directions College, for half a day a week. There will be 10 taught sessions and the course will run over 13 weeks. You will also be offered one to one sessions to help and support you if necessary. You will be expected to be committed and attend all the taught sessions.

Starting:

From 5th January 2027 to 25th May 2027
From 6th January 2027 to 26th May 2027

Course fee: £608*

*This course may be free of charge depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.

Level 1 Award in Next Steps to a Supporting Teaching and Learning Career

This course supports learners to progress from Level 1 or introductory study onto a Level 2 Supporting Teaching and Learning qualification. It develops knowledge of child development, safeguarding and supporting learning in the classroom, while building confidence, study skills, and professional behaviours.

Assessment through practical and written activities supports accurate placement and prepares learners for work experience, employment expectations, and success at Level 2.

Starting:

From 22nd February 2027 to 15th March 2027
From 23rd February 2027 to 16th March 2027
From 24th February 2027 to 17th March 2027

Course fee: £226*

*This course could be free depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.

Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Schools

This qualification prepares learners for further learning and training whilst developing an understanding of the teaching and learning environment in a school setting. It covers areas such as how to support the well-being of a child or young person and their development. This qualification is aimed at a range of learners who are thinking of working in a school setting including: young people, mature learners, learners with special educational needs or where English is an additional language.

Starting:

From 7th September 2026 to 19th October 2026
From 8th September 2026 to 20th October 2026
From 9th September 2026 to 21st October 2026

Course fee: £375*

*This course may be free of charge depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.

Level 1 Award in Next Steps to an Early Years Career

This course supports learners to progress from Level 1 or introductory study onto a Level 2 Early Years qualification. It develops knowledge of child development, safeguarding and play, while building confidence, study skills, and professional behaviours. Assessment through practical and written activities supports accurate placement and prepares learners for work experience, employment expectations, and success at Level 2.

Starting:

From 8th June 2027 to 29th June 2027
From 9th June 2027 to 30th June 2027

Course fee: £226*

*This course may be free of charge depending on your personal circumstances. Please contact us.

Level 2 Diploma in Early Years Practitioner

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.

In order to pass this course and gain full accreditation, you must be working (paid or un-paid) within a early years environment (nursery). 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.

Starting:

From 8th September 2026 to 6th July 2027
From 10th September 2026 to 8th July 2027

Course fee: £2,174*

*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 Early Years Practitioner

This accredited course is designed for those who are ready to pursue a professional career in an early year setting. It equips learners with the essential knowledge and practical skills required to work directly with children and to be included in staff: child ratios. The qualification meets the full Department for Education (DfE) Early Years Educator (EYE) criteria and aligns with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.

Through a blend of classroom learning and hands-on experience, learners will develop a deep understanding of child development, safeguarding, supporting play and learning, and effective communication with children and families. Upon successful completion, learners will be fully qualified to work as
Early Years Practitioners in a range of settings.

Starting:

From 7th September 2026 to 3rd July 2028

Course fee: £3659*

*To be eligible for full funding through the Level 3 Legal Entitlement offer via AS funding, learners must be aged between 19 and 23 years old, and this must be their first Level 3 qualification. All other learners must pay the non-funded fee. Learners aged 19 to 23, above the earnings threshold with a previous Level 3 qualification, can apply for a learner loan.

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.