Qualifications and colleges

What level would I study for?

• Skills for Life - For people looking to improve their English and Math for everyday use.
• Foundation Level - For people who have little or no experience of working with children
• Level 2 - For people who are working under supervision
• Level 3 - For people who work on their own initiative
• Level 4 - For experienced practitioners

Please refer to the Guide to Qualifications(pdf, 684KB) for further information and details.

Returning to childcare?

If you gained a childcare qualification some years ago, or trained elsewhere but haven't worked in childcare for a while, you can check if your qualifications are recognized by Ofsted for the job you want to do.

There is a qualification framework available for you to check this information, either by visiting www.openquals.org.uk, or looking in the Guide to Qualifications(pdf, 684KB).

Already working in childcare or playwork field?

If you are already working in the childcare or playwork field, you will be able to gain a recognized qualification by working towards an NVQ while you work.

You can check which level you could be working towards by having a look in the Guide to Qualifications(pdf, 684KB) or visiting www.openquals.org.uk.

Career change

If you have never worked with children before or want to return to work with children after a career break, you could explore the different avenues available. You can ask for one of our free videos/DVDs that shows what a career in childcare involves. You can then either volunteer, find a job or consider studying. This can be done either while you work or in a college-based course.

Please note that all childcare students will need to undergo a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check.

Local Colleges and Adult Education Centres

LBRUT Training and Education Centre

Local Venues
020 8891 7215

• Level 1 - Getting started in a pre-school settings.
• NVQ2 in Children's Care, Learning and Development

Richmond Upon Thames College

Egerton Road
Twickenham
Middlesex
TW2 7SJ
020 8891 6285
www.rutc.ac.uk

• Caring for Children Foundation Award
• CACHE Certificate in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• CACHE Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• NVQ2 in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• NVQ3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• Foundation Degree in Early Years

Richmond Adult Community College

Clifton Road
Twickenham
TW1 4LT
020 8891 6285
www.racc.ac.uk

• NVQ2 in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• NVQ3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• Working With Children - Introduction to APEL Level 3
• Essential Skills and Childcare
• Teaching Assistants Level 2 and 3

Kingston College

Kingston Hall Road
Kingston Upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 2AQ
020 8546 2151
www.kingston-college.ac.uk

• CACHE Certificate in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• CACHE Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• CACHE Foundation Award in Caring for Children Foundation in Early Years Degree

West Thames College

London Road
Isleworth
Middlesex
TW7 4HS
020 8326 2000
www.west-thames.ac.uk

• NVQ2 in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• NVQ3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• NVQ4 in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• NVQ3 in Caring for Children and Young People
• CACHE Certificate in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• CACHE Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• Foundation Degree in Early Years Education

Spelthorne College

Church Road
Ashford
Middlesex
TW15 2XD
01784 248 666
www.spelthorne.ac.uk

• NVQ2 Children's Care, Learning and Development
• NVQ3 Children's Care, Learning and Development
• NVQ4 Children's Care, Learning and Development
• NVQ2 Playwork
• NVQ3 Playwork
• CACHE Certificate in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• CACHE Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development
• Emergency Aid for People who work with children

Learn Direct

0800 100 900
www.learndirect.co.uk

• Learn Direct is a government sponsored service. They can offer free, impartial information and advice on over 700 000 courses from providers in the United Kingdom.

Open University

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
01908 653 231
www.openuniversity.co.uk

• The Open University(OU) is the United Kingdom's only university dedicated to distance learning.
• For most courses there are no pre-requisite qualifications required to study, you have to be aged 18 when your course starts but there is no upper age limit.

NEC Study Programmes

National Extension College
Freepost CB84
Cambridge
CB2 2BR
01223 400 350
www.nec.ac.uk/courses

• This is a charity that was set up to help people of all ages fit learning into their lives. The information it provides ranges from a student looking for a home study course, or learning materials.