To ask how long and much to complete levels 1-3 of childcare early years?!

[ChablisandCrisps]

As it says in the title really, shanlesssly posting in AIBU for traffic. If someone needs to complete levels 1-3 of the early years childcare NVQ, what would the total cost be roughly and how long if doing it via distance learning? Self-funded rather than by an employer. Thanks!!!

I'm in Scotland so we have SVQ rather than NVQ but first thing I'd ask based on how ut works here is, do you actually need to do the lower ones? Here you can generally go straight to doing the level 3 if you have a small amount of experience

No they have no previous experience working in a childcare setting though are a parent to 4 children though I doubt that counts 🤣 there is a possibility of running a nursery but they need level 3 before they can take up the post.

You could potentially do level 3 first. I did with experience and a job in childcare. Maybe without you might be able to do level 2 first.
However please don’t underestimate how hard running a setting would be. You would need to know far far more than a level 3 provides even though that is all you need on paper. Without any childcare experience except their own children it would be almost impossible to know just how much goes into it.

My level 3 took a year whilst at a workplace and doing distance studying. Remember this may be delayed by restrictions caused by covid allowing you to be observed in a setting.

When I say small amount - our apprentices start with us then it's always a few months before the training provider has a space on their course. By the time that course starts they go straight to level 3.

A quick Google suggests 1 and 2 are not a requirement for 3 either. However you do need to be working in a childcare setting to get it. That's the situation here too - you have to be gaining practical experience and get assessed on site

I agree with @MilkItTilITurnItIntoCheese btw. There is a lot more to running a setting than you will even touch in a level 3 (from what I can see they're fairly equivalent)

Up here you have to do a degree level qualification to run a setting (you can work under a conditional registration for 5 years while you obtain it). Tbh even that doesn't cover a lot of the practical stuff well

Could they get an apprenticeship and do it that way then it won't cost anything and there would be a wage albeit small. Or another alternative would be through an adult learning loan. Thus is only paid back once the salary hits a certain level.

I did a years HNC Childhood Practice at college and this I’m sure is the same as level 3.

This was funded through SAAS,

I’m in Scotland.

Thank you for your replies! Thr cost is not an issue I can fund it for them and they have lots of experience running other businesses and will get a lot of support from the owners during the transition period but needs to do the level 3 before this can be started.

The setting can accommodate them so they can do the practical aspects so that will be fine. Its a small nursery owned by family who would be there to support her as she found her feet.

You have to have in-setting assessments and experience to gain a full L3 qualification. As an adult it would be easier to do this while working but I think colleges also offer it and arrange placements. Depending on age and experience you can go straight to L3 - I did this. You need to have C or above in GCSE maths and English to be counted in ratio with the L3.

It's cheaper to do it through an apprenticeship or workplace. I didn't pay anything towards my L3.

It does take more than a L3 to run a setting. There is a lot of other knowledge necessary. I've done my L5 and still feel like I don't know enough!

Are you suggesting they literally do assessments at the setting, get the qualification, become manager?

Sounds like a recipe for disaster tbh - and for the staff having zero respect.

Shexhas known the staff for years, the owner is stepping down as manager, existing Level 3s don't want ot take on management stuff so she is going to go in to do the administrative management side of things but will get her L3 too so that she can get involved in the day to day stuff with the children also. Thanks all, really helpful information

I did my Level 4 with the OU so was all distance learning, was about fifteen years ago though.