Home Learning College

[SisterDisco-x]

I was wondering if anyone on here has or is doing a home learning college course?

I'm interested in doing the childcare - learning & development course.
I would love to just be able to go to college and do it.
But I need to keep my job, so don't have the time.
Do you think they are worth it ?
& Has anybody got a new job from completing the course?

I did at year at college & done really well, not in the same course in business, but then i moved & didn't go back!
& it just feels bad to me when i have to put it on my CV
I'm perfectly capable & got 5 discinctions in my first year out of 7 units, but it's all judged on qualifications & what you can put down on paper i suppose these days.

 

[Sovereign]

I've been wondering about the Home Learning College too hun, so I don't know but will be watching this thread x

 

[SisterDisco-x]

glad i'm not the only one!
i was thinking about it before, & i emailed one of the advisor's asking if the qualification was the same as like a levels etc.
& they said that they were.
i'm hoping that's right!

 

[x_kitty_x]

I'm not sure if this helps, but I know a friend of mine did that course through the home learning college (hoping it would be equivalent to A levels) with the hopes of attending university. However, the universities she applied to didn't consider the course advanced enough to allow her entry onto the program and she had to do the Entry to HE course in nursing before she was allowed to study for her degree.

On the other hand, employers did seem to view it quite favourably - particularly because in addition to the valuable knowledge she gained it showed critical skills like time-management and independance and because she took the initiative to actually do a course.

On a side note, she did find after paying for the course that other places do offer it cheaper. I've had a scout around and at the moment its £449.00 through the home learning college, whilst the following offer the same course (accredited by OCN) cheaper and also have good reputations:

openstudycollege.com - £313.65
learning-at-home.co.uk - £266.00

 

[SisterDisco-x]

thanks! that's a great help

i did think that it wouldn't be quite so equivalent.
i was hoping to do it , not for the intention of going to university.
that's not really what i'd like to do.
but in the future i'd like to look for a job in childcare.

i think i might consider doing it with another home learning group then!
i'd be able to start it sooner
!
where do you do the Entry to HE courses?
I wouldn't have the time haha

 

[x_kitty_x]

It's usually local colleges that offer Access to HE courses, and they often run part-time as evening courses and are usually quite cheap compared to doing A Levels etc. They're designed for mature students with no A Levels and very little/no GCSEs and are designed to get you up to scratch to go straight to University on completion - not good unless its specifically uni you want to do.

 

[SisterDisco-x]

ohh the local college isnt exactly local lol
thats why it's annoying!
but i'm not thinking about uni at the moment.
maybe one day i'll change my mind.
that's why i'm just wondering.
i have good gcse's and everything though just want to gain qualifications for the future.
plan b as they call it
thank you for your help!

 

[Kirstin]

The open university do child development related courses. The problem with some courses that are done online is they aren't really worth much. If you want to do childcare do a CACHE course.

 

[SisterDisco-x]

i can't find one that does CACHE.
eeek!

 

[Kirstin]

https://www.icslearn.co.uk/vocation...ion-public-service/cache-level2-childrenscare

 

[x_kitty_x]

The CACHE courses are well recognised so that's not a bad idea. Open University is also becoming better recognised these days, however, I have found its often a very expensive way to study.

 

[SisterDisco-x]

thank you for the link!
yeah they are very expensive.
but i do work, so i can set aside some savings, i'd rather pay it off in one than pay installments, that's just what i'm like!
the nearest college is like 45 mins on a bus.
& because i work it doesn't fit in with work
so i'm not left with much more options

i'd rather do it @ home in my own time than not do it at all though.

 

[aimee-lou]

I've done a number of courses through home study and most are really good.

Yes, there is the problem of recognition but most of mine I've done so I can run my own busines....book-keeping, marketing etc.
If you're in any way worried about their recognition always go for OCN accredited colleges and check the reviews online. Home study requires a lot of skill and commitment in order to complete, which you should also point out in your CV......every mothod of study is valid in some way.
If I were you I would go through the household names of the OU or ICS as they are the most regulated of the schools. Yes they are a little more expensive but you pay for the quality and they fact that you wont have to explain the end result quite so much.

 

[SisterDisco-x]

i think its a shame that they don't hold so much recognition, because then it puts people off wanting to do them in the first place, and why should it be a bad thing wanting to learn more etc?
surely that is a good thing.
& if anything i think it's shows more dedication & intelligence to do complete the course @ home.
if i do the CACHE level 2 children's care learning & development course, is it actually going to go some way in helping me find a job in that path later on
lol

 

[x_kitty_x]

I did an ICS course myself and to be honest I wasn't happy with their service, took me ages to get responses from my tutors and I found lots of misprints in my learning materials. I was doing A Level French though so totally different.

 

[Kirstin]

The CACHE ones will really help you its the industry standard qualification.