NVQ3 Qualified

[crace]

I have a very silly question, but I really have no idea what the answer is. How do you get nvq3 qualified and how long does this take?

I am doing my NVQ3 in Children's care, Learning and Development at the moment crace. It takes roughly 18m - 2yrs, depending how quickly you get through it. Think mine will be nearer two years - should be finished by end of summer term!

I do mine through my local college. I have an assessor who visits me and records my performance criteria that she has seen. She just comes and watches whatever we are doing, chatting to me and the kids. You also have written knowledge to do, (basically stating the obvious, what you do, why, how) and you may also cover requirements through writing reflective accounts of events, or by your assessor doing Q+A sessions with you.

It sounds complicated but once you get your head round how an NVQ works it is quite straightforward common sense stuff. My only challenge is finding the time to do it!

I have the NVQ Level 3, I wasn't sure whether to do it but went for it and am glad as I can get other jobs such as nursery nurse work/Childrens centre work as a creche worker if i decided to give up childminding when my 5 yr old ds is at senior school.

I think it took me about the same time - 18mths - 2 yrs. There is quite a bit of work and you need to be quite disciplined to do it otherwise it catches up with you. You have an assessor who comes to see you 'in action' as it were doing reading, physical activities etc.

I'm thinking of doing the new Cache Level 3 certificate in EYFS which is like a bolt-on to the NVQ. Talk to your early Years team who are in charge of training and they may point you in the right driection - good luck!

Ah well there goes that theory. Ok, basically I live in a small village that offers zero after school care apart from a few after school clubs that aren't everyday and only last until 4.30. I have parents phoning me quite a bit looking for after school care and as I am giving up in a couple months it doesn't make sense that I take them on.

So I phoned Ofsted and to set up an after school club it needs to be run by a manager who is nvq3 qualified plus half the staff need to be nvq3 qualified.

Urgh. I just think the school has an obligation to set something like this up but it's very small village mentality that mums stay home with their children and as we are only 55 mins + via train to London there are lots of people moving into the village and they can't maintain this mentality. When I first moved in two years ago I had to send my son out of the village 5 miles away because there was no one to look after him! Rant over and I am bummed I can't set this up myself.

I have also thought about an after school club at my lad's school, am not sure how to set one up though so I may contact OFSTED. We could do with one really at the school, they have a breakfast club so I might ask how to get involved with helping at that first.

I would also ask friends who are childminders at the school if they want an after school club too, I don't want to put anyone out of business. The last school I took a child to and picked up set one up and didn't bother asking any of the childminders what they wanted and alot of work was lost because of it.