Do you want to work with children or within healthcare and social services? Would you like to study Child Development, Child Care or Health and Social Care?

Would you like the opportunity to gain practical experience in a range of work placements? Do you want to meet other people and get yourself a nationally recognised qualification?

If you can answer yes to all the above then these courses are designed for you.

This course is for beginners who wish to communicate with deaf people using British Sign Language and is good preparation for those hoping to join the Level 1 course. The course covers basic conversational sign language including:

• The manual alphabet
• Home life
• Occupations
• Holiday signs

This practical, work-based qualification offers units that enable students to work with children up to the age of 16. Six or seven mandatory units and one optional unit are studied including:

• Help to keep children safe
• Support children’s development
• Support children’s play and learning

Candidates are expected to be working in the industry where they have the opportunity to use and be assessed on the practical skills needed for this qualification. Students need experience of working with children, preferably in a playgroup, nursery or school setting.

Recent experience of learning such as through a professional development care or childcare qualification such as Intermediate or Foundation GNVQ in Health and Social Care, or a PLA qualification is desirable but not essential. GCSEs at grades D or E are preferred.

Successful completion of the course may lead to further training and progression to a Level 3 childcare qualification such as the NVQ 3.

This work-based qualification draws on students’ existing skills and knowledge providing the opportunity to develop further in accordance with National Standards. The course covers units that will enable students to work unsupervised with children up to the age of 16 in various settings and consists of five mandatory units and four optional ones.

For each unit students are required to provide evidence that they:

• Have the necessary knowledge and understanding
• Work with clients as required

This course is for people who have the NVQ 2 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (or an equivalent qualification) or a significant amount of experience of working with young children and are currently working in a school, nursery or playgroup for example.

This qualification is essential for all care staff. The NVQ draws on existing skills and knowledge providing opportunities to develop these further in line with the National Care Standards.

The NVQ consists of six units; four mandatory and two optional. For each unit students need to provide assessors with evidence that they:

• Have the necessary knowledge and understanding
• Work with clients as stated in the National Care Standards

For those working in a supervisory position, this qualification draws on existing skills and knowledge of care work, providing opportunities to develop these further in line with the National Care Standards.

The NVQ consists of eight units and for each unit students need to provide assessors with evidence that they:

• Have the necessary knowledge and understanding
• Work with clients as stated in the National Care Standards

Psychology is the study of human behaviour. The GCSE provides a wide ranging introduction to psychology and students will cover inter-personal process, individual process and methods of investigation.