Qualifications and Short Course Childcare and Early Years Training
Short Course Training
If you are considering a career in childcare the Localities and Childcare Team sponsors a comprehensive programme of training sessions and professional development activities throughout the school year. Most of these training sessions aim to provide underpinning knowledge of NVQ level 2 and 3 qualifications.
Introduction to childcare qualifications
Parents and children benefit from experienced and qualified workers who can respond correctly and appropriately to their needs. By holding the appropriate level of qualifications and by continuing on a training programme, you can help to promote children's social, physical, intellectual, creative and emotional development. With experience, training and the appropriate qualifications comes the ability to interact with and share information on the care of children with their parents and with other staff members.
Do I need qualifications?
You may be able to work in some areas of the childcare and playwork sectors without holding qualifications, however, there are long-term and career benefits to obtaining qualifications, especially if you see working with children and young people as a career rather than a job. For some occupations, there are regulations that stipulate the qualification that you should have. For example, at least half the staff working in private or voluntary sector day nurseries have to be qualified as early years care and education workers.
What kinds of qualifications are there?
There are currently many qualifications which are specific to Early years, Education or Playwork. Courses are set at levels which determine the role which you take within the setting and the level of seniority at which you can work. Recognised qualifications are those which have been approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) 
and are part of the Early Years, Childcare and Playwork Framework or relevant qualifications approved under the National Daycare Standards.
Set out below is a demonstration of the levels of qualifications and how with continued training you can develop your career:
Level 1: give you a taste of working in childcare and playwork. These are accredited courses but they are not of a high enough level to be a recognised qualification on the QCA framework.
Level 2: if you wish to work in a setting under supervision. If you obtain a Level 2 qualification, you are counted as qualified when calculating staff ratios.
Level 3: if you wish to work under your own initiative (without supervision) in a setting. You will plan and organise your own workload and manage others.
Level 4: if you are an experienced practitioner, wishing to carry out complex and non-routine tasks. You will be in a managerial role in large or multiple settings, or have responsibility for Quality Assurance in a number of settings.
Level 5: A Foundation degree if you are a senior practitioner wishing to build upon Level 3 and 4 achievements, providing the knowledge and understanding required at Senior Practitioner Level. This qualification counts towards the first 2 years learning of another degree.
Level 6: A full degree if you are intending to become an Early Years Professional Leader in your setting.
Ways you can gain a qualification
Colleges: Colleges or Adult Education Centres offer a range of full and part-time courses that usually take place during the academic year. Most full-time courses are fixed for a length of time, although some Colleges are flexible as to when you attend. Assessment is done at various points in the course rather than through an end of course examination.
Workplace: National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) or Modern Apprenticeships can be achieved whilst you are working, paid or voluntary, in a childcare setting. Your work is assessed through your performance, skills and competence. You will also be expected to attend training workshops with your training provider. You can take up to 5 years to complete an NVQ, working to complete each unit at your own pace. As a guide it usually takes 18 months to complete an NVQ Level 3.
Distance Learning: allows you to learn in your own home and in your own time. The National Extension College (NEC) provides a range of distance learning opportunities to gain qualifications in early years, childcare and playwork.
Poole Approved Providers
The following providers are approved for training courses and qualifications when using Sure Start Funds. There are other providers that work locally but we do not quality assure them.
Bournemouth and Poole College , North Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset BH14 OLS. Courses available: various full and part-time in Early Years & Playwork, and the Foundation Degree. Contact: 01202 205908.
Brockenhurst College : Lyndhurst Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7ZE. Early Years Care and Education NVQ Level 2 & 3, Foundation Degree. Contact: 01590 625500.
Cranemoor Training: 7 Lake Road, Verwood, Dorset BH31 6BU.NVQ 2, 3 and provider of careers in childcare information sessions. Contact: 01202 821539.
First 4 Health and Safety: First House, 11 Mallard Road, Wimborne, BH21 2NJ. Provider of Level 2 CIEH Health and Safety, Level 2 CIEH Food Hygiene. Contact: 01202 889557
Med-Star Paediatric: 27 Chalbury Close, Canford Heath, Poole, Dorset, BH17 8BP. First Aid Courses. Contact: 01202 382187.
Open University : PO BOX 197, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BJ. Foundation Degrees via modular distance learning method. Contact: 0845 399 6090.
Ouch Training: 13c Riverside Park, Station Road, Wimborne Dorset, BH21 1QU. Provider of Paediatric First Aid, Level 2 CIEH Health and Safety, Level 2 CIEH Manual Handling, Level 2 CIEH Food Safety, Level 3 CIEH Risk Assessment. Contact: 0800 389 1314.
Poole Adult Learning: Oakdale Centre, Wimborne Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 3DL. Diploma in Pre-School Practice and various short courses and APEL are available. Contact: 01202 262300.
Seafox : 26 Cologne Road, Bovington, Dorset BH20 6NR. First aid courses. Contact: 08453 707112.
Wessex Training : 112 Albert Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, BH12 2EY. NVQ 2, 3 and 4 in Early Years & Playwork and various short courses. Contact: 01202 250434.
Weymouth College : Cranford Avenue, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 7LQ. Diploma in Home-based Childcare. Contact: 01305 761100.
Whitehorse Leadership Training : 7 Old Parish Lane, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 0HY. Provider of Paediatric First Aid and CIEH Level 2 Food Safety. Contact: 01305 769720.
Foundation Degree in Early Years
This is a level of professional practice in Early Years known as Senior Practitioner. This qualification will enable you as committed and hard working Early Years Practitioners, Teaching Assistants and Playworkers to specialise in the Early Years and gain advanced skills. This represents the first part of an important new career pathway, which will help raise standards and give you the recognition you deserve. Those candidates with the potential will be able to progress on to become qualified teachers.
The National Qualifications Framework
The aim of the Government's 'Meeting the Childcare Challenge' (sets out the need for good quality childcare for children aged 0-14 years) depends on the skill and competence of the of you, the people who work in the settings. The National Qualifications Framework has been developed to make clear the purpose of each qualification and the standard to be reached to achieve it. It details historical qualifications, their national currency and describes roles of responsibility which can be carried out within settings. Some Qualifications will still be recognised but some older qualifications will be out of date and some staff may be required to do additional training to maintain qualified staff ratios.
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