To work in childcare allows you to play a key part in the development of the youngest members of our society. A highly trained and skilled early years workforce means we will ensure our pre-school children learn and develop as they should, and are kept safe.

If you are currently working in childcare and you are interested in undertaking a work-based qualification, you’ll want to explore your options. The government provides funding for apprenticeships, but if this route is not for you, rest assured you can still obtain a nationally recognised, industry-approved qualification with VTS. There are some benefits to studying a ‘stand-alone’ qualification. For example –

• There is no minimum timeframe to get qualified. Although there are certain guidelines, if you put the work in, you can progress significantly faster than those studying a similar course via an apprenticeship
• You do not have to be employed for a certain number of hours per week you don’t have to be employed at all, you can be a volunteer. As long as your duties in the setting match the qualification you want to study, you can enrol.
• Your employer does not have to financially contribute to your study and therefore you will not be tied to them after you are qualified.
• There is no maths and English to worry about

You will have a structured learning programme and an individual learning plan. Your VTS tutor will meet with you regularly to guide you through your learning and you will build a portfolio of evidence which will include work you have completed, professional discussion records and observations by your tutor. You will achieve your qualification when your portfolio contains all the evidence required by the awarding body (City & Guilds).

There are qualifications at levels 2, 3 & 5 available for you: