CACHE Level 3 in Diploma Home-Based Childcare

[rasharoon]

Hi
Wonder if anyone can help.
I would like to do the DHC-L3 but having been referred to what they say is my local college by West Sussex County Council, I don't know if I can do it.
Reason being is that each Unit is 1 night a week from 7.00pm-9.00pm. Now I live nowhere near the College and do not have a car and with two children about to start where they won't be picked up until about 6.00pm/6.30pm, living a 20 minute walk from the train station won't give me time to get there. Also, a lot depends on whether my partner is home to look after my two boys as he works away a lot and I have nobody else to ask.
Can these units be completed online and still be recognised by Ofsted?
Does anybody have any ideas of what to do?
Also, the college requests a £400 registration fee with each Unit costing £125. I don't have this money. Do you get funding from your local council?
Have to admit to dreading doing coursework along with a 4000 word assignment. Wasn't too great at school and haven't done anything this intense since leaving school (22 years ago). Found I was nervous just doing the Unit 1 multiple choice exam.
For anybody who has done the course, is it really hard and how on earth do you find the time.
Sorry for the waffle but am really worried about this.
Thank you.
Rachelle

[Pauline]

Hi Rachelle

If I were you I would contact your CIS or whoever has been helping you with your registration and explain the problem. They might be able to tell you about any funding in your area. It wouldn't be fair if you had to pay if doing the first unit is part of the condition for registration.

I have heard of the course being done on-line, I'm sure someone on here was thinking about it but I can't remember who.

If you do decide to do it on-line I would check with Ofsted first and get it in writing that it is accepted by them.

[charleyfarley]

Not sure if you can do this online but I applied for funding to do the same course at home with a distant learning college (NEC). This was accepted and my pack arrived this week. If you need anymore info then pm me and I'll do my best to help

Carol xx

[rasharoon]

Thanks both for your advice. I have emailed the CIS so hope to get a reply.
Charleyfarley - tried to pm you but if I looked at it right, your email addy is hidden. How does it work online and how long should it take..............
Thanks

[rasharoon]

What is NCMA Quality First actually about? Is this the equivalent of the CACHE Diploma.
Am I being dim?

[rainbowmum]

I was told I was better of doing the Nvq 3 in childcare as this is what will take you furthest if you want to progress on from being a childminder - ie being a network co-ordinator or something. Although they did say the DHC or Quality 1st would count towards some of the work you have to do on the nvq. As far as I know there is currently funding avaiable towards the full cost of the Nvq until Aug 08 through the transformation fund.

[vik3000]

The Quality First is a portfolio of your setting and reviews every three years.

[rasharoon]

Hi All
Just an update. I received an email back from my local CIS and apparently, I cannot do the course via the NEC. No real reason but also said that I wouldn't get funding.
When I looked at my local college about doing this course, the CACHE registration fee was £400 but apparently, when I registered to do the ICP course, I would have been issued with a CACHE candidate number or pin number. Do you think I have this - nope.
Anyway, the outcome is that I would have to ring up the college and put my name down for a Saturday course so as soon as they have enough numbers, they will then organise the course.
So there goes.
Thanks all for your advice.
Rachelle

[mel]

Personally I had quite a few problems with the nec and only did my first unit with them. One girl was pulled up on a disciplinary as she refused to respond to any of my calls.
All water under the bridge now but I wouldn't use them as your first choice. I live relatively rurally so couldn't attend college to do it.

Mel x

[charleyfarley]

I've just started mine with NEC and hopefully I won't have any problems unlike Mel although I still haven't heard off the tutor so I'm starting to panic.
Where did you do the other units Mel? Just incase it does go wrong as I can only do it by distant learning

Carol xx

[bella]

hi i am doing the dhc through the ncma are you not able to do this its costing me £10 per unit have done 4 now about to start on 5 the courses are normally 7-9 on a monday (1 a month) and 1 saturday a month hope this helps