Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register- As of September 2007 the Childcare Approval Scheme will stop taking applications and home-based child-carers will be able to apply to be registered on the new Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register instead. Under this new scheme child-carers will be required to undertake common core skills training.

Both courses listed below are suitable courses for the new scheme as they both cover all 6 of the common core skills. One of the courses listed below (the CACHE Unit 1 ICP course) is an attendance course usually held in London or occasionally in Reading and the second course (the OCN Common Core Skills Distance Learning Course) is a home-study course for those who cannot attend.

1. The CACHE Unit 1 ICP (Introduction to Childcare Practice) Course for Nannies, Au-Pairs and Childminders. This 12 hour course (held over 2 days- Fri/Sat) is run monthly in London and in Reading.

Students who choose this option DO NOT have to undertake any assessments and will receive a letter at the end of the 2 day course which states that they have attended the whole course. This letter is the evidence you will need to show to Ofsted that you have completed your induction training.However students taking this course can OPT to take the multiple choice asessment test associated with the course. If you choose to take the assessment test you will receive a certificate upon passing. Achieving a pass certificate could increase your status and employability. (The 45 minute test takes place approx 1 month after the course on a Saturday afternoon-usually in the same venue as the course or nearby- full details wil be given at the course).

PLEASE NOTE-SUCCESFULLY PASSING THE MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST ALLOWS STUDENTS TO PROGRESS ONTO UNITS 2-5 OF THE DIPLOMA IN HOME BASED CHILDCARE (DHC). CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

The cost of this version of the course is: £176.25 (incl VAT), however we have obtained funding from the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) for a limited number of part-funded places. Please call to check if you are eligible and if there are still any of these places available-if so you will only need to pay £135 (incl VAT). All applicants will need to fill in the application form which you can download at the bottom of the page. (If you opt to do the non-compulsory assessment test you will also need to pay the trainer a £40 admin fee at the course).

Course dates in 2008:

29th-30th August- Kensington (SPACES AVAILABLE)
19th-20th September - Kensington (SPACES AVAILABLE)
31st Oct-1st November - Kensington (SPACES AVAILABLE)

For later dates please call for more info - 0844 8268 446 (between 9.30a.m.-1.30p.m. Mon-Fri)

A downloadable application form is at the bottom of the page.

2. The OCN Common Core Skills Distance Learning Course for Nannies, Au-Pairs and Child-minders. This is studied at home using a self study pack and hence can be taken by students living anywhere in the UK. Students can commence this course at any time.

Students taking this course option use a self study booklet which we send out in the post once you have applied. Students taking this corse MUST do the assessments associated with the course- these come with the pack and are also completed at home. Students have 4 weeks in which to complete the assessments which are then posted back to us for marking. It then takes a few weeks for the marking process to occur and students are then sent a certificate on passing.It is this certificate which is used to provide the evidence to Ofsted of having completed the course.

PLEAE NOTE THERE IS NO PROGRESSION ROUTE FROM THIS OCN COMMON CORE SKILLS DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE ONTO THE DIPLOMA IN HOME BASED CHILDCARE(DHC).

The cost of this version of the course is: £176.25 (incl VAT). We have obtained funding from the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) for a limited number of part-funded spaces for this course for those who are eligible. Please call to see if there are still any of these part-funded places available and if so you will only need to pay £135 (incl VAT). All applicants will need to fill in the application form which you can download at the bottom of the page.

Students can apply for the distance learning option using the same application form as the students who attend (see below to download).

For further information please call 0844 8268 446 (between 9.30a.m.-1.30p.m. Mon-Fri)

To download the application form click here