CM Club - Where to find out about studying?

[CMthinkingaboutstudying]

I have worked as a nanny and a CM for 14 years. Whilst I love looking after children, I feel like I'm just drifting at the moment. I had a lightbulb moment over the weekend and have decided that I want to study and gain more formal qualifications but, after spending an hour going round in circles on the interweb, I can't find where I need to enquire .

I'm interested in cache level 3 or nvq level 3 (is that the same thing?!).

The Cache level 3 is what I have, its college-based and full-time for two years (I think its the same for every provider) You go to college every other week and a work placement the rest of the time. The NVQ is a work based qualification- you have a childcare job and study at the same time. I'm not sure on the detail but I think you get assessed and you have to go to college sometimes.

I'm hoping to start this after the summer!

My DH did an NVQ3 through NEC, which is correspondence and he didn't have to go to college and could just work at his own pace.

And I'm just doing my last course for my BA Early Years with the OU (See Samedi's link). It has been a long slog, but mostly interesting.

I'm about to start my CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People?s Workforce (DCYPW) through MNT Training, got my assessor coming next week to show me what's what. I believe it's 3 modules each lasting about 4 months each but you can break between modules if that helps (although sure has to be complete by a set time, maybe 2 years?). It's all done at home, no college, and it's done via an online system. I believe the NVQ3 will eventually not be available (although still valid) and this will be one of the ones to do instead (not 100% sure but someone said it's replacing a few of the other quals?).

The NVQ/CACHE DCE or DHC or other diplomas/BTECs/whatever are all being withdrawn in favour of the new industry standard Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce, so that is what you should aim to do. It will be available in local colleges and by distance via companies like the MNT or NEC. I wouldn't recommend starting any of the ones which are being withdrawn because resources and support are bring diverted from them to the Diploma.

The planned date for stopping them was 31/12/10 but I've seen a few centres with extensions.

Hi
How long did it take you to do HSMM. Im hoping to start that course after the summer too.

Sorry I meant to say how long to do the whole degree course.

OP, Contact your local authority's Training and Workforce Development team (hopefully your LA will have one!) and they can point you in the right direction.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone. I'm going to make a few calls now to find out more.

Kelly - I started my OU degree in 2006. I have not overlapped any courses (not organised enough) and I am on my final course for my BA now.

Thanks HSMM, I couldnt get my brain to work when I was looking at the courses and trying to work out how long it would take to finish.

I'm doing the EYF degree with OU, started in October, 2009, finishing hopefully in May 2012. I am currently overlapping 2 courses for 3 months, can highly recommend the degree to everyone.

Some colleagues have recently started a fast track NVQ level 3 course and they will do it in 12 weeks. They have said there are several childminders on the course. They are doing it at the local college 1 evening a week (6-9) and it is funded by the local council.
Maybe you could ask at your local FE college.