Why do I need a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)?
NVQs are work-related, nationally recognised qualifications designed to reflect people's competence and ability to do their job to an agreed national standard.
Government guidelines state that by 2010 it is expected that all new employees, regardless of profession, will need a basic Level 2 qualification to apply for any role within the workplace. If you are already employed full-time or part-time in business or education or are a volunteer you can gain a NVQ to recognise your skills and expertise. There are no special entry requirements.
The NVQs, which we offer, are work-based qualifications. The main focus is on your performance but it also recognises the knowledge and understanding that underpins your performance.
A Level 2 qualification is designed for practitioners with little experience and who work under supervision. A level 2 is suitable for people who may or may not already have GCSEs.
A Level 3 qualification is designed for practitioners with more experience in the workplace, who work more in a supervisory capacity. A level 3 is suitable for candidates who may already have GCSEs or A Levels.
How are NVQs achieved?
Once you have registered you will go through an induction process and be given a Candidate Handbook, which outlines the National Standards, including the performance criteria and the knowledge that you will be expected to demonstrate.
As with all qualifications you are required to be assessed. This is achieved in two ways:
- By observation of you in your work place by a qualified Assessor
- By assessment of the evidence you have gathered from your work based experience.
NVQs are achieved through assessment and development. You will need to produce evidence to prove your competence to meet the NVQ standards. An Assessor will visit you in school approximately once every 4-6 working school weeks to give guidance, review progress, plan and carry out assessment. Your Assessor wills 'sign-off' units when they are complete.
When you start an NVQ, your assessor will usually help you to:
- identify what you can do already
- agree on the standard and level you are aiming for
- analyse what you need to learn
- choose and agree on activities that would allow you to learn what you need.
You can begin immediately working with whatever your experience is to date.
You will work with your Assessor to compare your performance with the standards as you work and learn. Together you will look at what has been achieved, how much you still need to do and how you should go about it, until you are assessed as competent for a unit or a whole NVQ.
How much will it cost to complete an NVQ?
You may be eligible for full or partial funding through the Train to Gain scheme. More information about this can be obtained by using the Standard Practice online form or by following this link:
Which NVQ is best for me?
NVQ Level 2 in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
This NVQ is designed to reflect the work of those who are employed as teaching assistants or are in new roles such as cover supervision, welfare and pastoral support and extended schools provision. At Level 2 you may be new to the occupation and/or your responsibilities at work may be limited in scope. It is suitable for learners whose levels of decision-making and work are tightly defined by the classroom teacher. The NVQ is suitable for those working with pupils of any age in primary, secondary or special schools.
These qualifications are very flexible in their structure enabling the school and individual to choose the optional units which best suit the work situation, job role and school improvement plan.
The qualification comprises of 7 units, five mandatory and two optional units. The mandatory units are:
Provide support for learning activities
Support children's development
Help to keep children safe
Contribute to positive relationships
Provide effective support for your colleagues
Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
NVQ Level 3 in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
This NVQ is designed to reflect the work of those who are experienced teaching assistants and/or whose job role covers a varied range of responsibilities. It is expected that learners at this level will have some autonomy in their role which may be that of teaching assistant working in any stage of education from reception or post-16 and in any type of mainstream or special school. It may also be in welfare and pastoral support and extended schools provision.
These qualifications are very flexible in their structure enabling the school and individual to choose the optional units which best suit the work situation, job role and school improvement plan.
The qualification comprises of 10 units, six mandatory and four optional units. The mandatory units are:
Help to keep children safe
Support children's learning activities
Promote positive behaviour
Develop and promote positive relationships
Support the development and effectiveness of work teams
Reflect on and develop practice
Learners will demonstrate their skills in their work place environment. They will be supported and assessed continually throughout this process. Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
NVQ Level 2 in Playwork
If you work with children in play schemes, holiday clubs or after-school care, this course will enable you to prove your competence and develop your skills in a wide range of aspects of the provision of play activities.
You will complete four mandatory and two optional units. The mandatory units are:
Support relationships in the play environment.
Work with children and young people to create play spaces and support freely chosen, self-directed play.
Contribute to the health, safety, security and welfare of children and young people using the play environment.
Help to improve your own practice and the work of your playwork team.
The optional units include topics such as providing food and drink in the play environment, supporting disabled children and young people in the play environment and carrying out playwork in a school setting.
Learners will demonstrate their skills in their work place environment. They will be supported and assessed continually throughout this process. Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
NVQ Level 3 in Playwork
If you work with children in play schemes, holiday clubs or after-school care and have a role with supervisory responsibility, this course will enable you to prove your competence and develop your skills in offering, planning and supervising play activities for children.
You need to complete five mandatory and four optional units. The mandatory units are:
Contribute to an organisational framework that reflects the needs and protects the rights of children and young people.
Develop and maintain a healthy, safe and secure environment for children.
Develop and promote positive relationships.
Plan for and support self-directed play.
Reflect on and develop practice.
The optional units cover a wide range of topics such as teamwork, responding to concerns about possible child abuse, working with parents and carers, organising and supervising travel.
Learners will demonstrate their skills in their work place environment. They will be supported and assessed continually throughout this process. Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
NVQ Level 2 in Childcare Learning and Development
This qualification is for anyone working with children aged 0-16 years, in day nurseries, crèches, playgroups, schools, and childminding. You can start your NVQ any time during the year.
This Level 2 NVQ qualification contains six mandatory units:
Contribute to positive relationships
Help to keep children safe
Support children's development
Use support to develop own practice in children's care, learning and development
Prepare and maintain environments to meet children's needs
Support children's play and learning
plus one optional unit chosen from a list of four
Learners will demonstrate their skills in their work place environment. They will be supported and assessed continually throughout this process. Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
NVQ Level 3 in Childcare Learning and Development
This programme is for those working with children aged 0-16 years in care settings, working with families and children and who have supervisory responsibilities.
This Level 3 qualification contains five mandatory units:
Develop and promote positive relationships
Develop and maintain a healthy, safe and secure environment for children
Promote children's development
Reflect on and develop practice
Protect and promote children's rights.
Plus four optional units that are chosen from a list of forty-one.
Learners will demonstrate their skills in their work place environment. They will be supported and assessed continually throughout this process. Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
NVQ Level 2 in Customer Service
NVQ Level 3 in Customer Service
Customer service professionals form the public face of most organisations including schools, and managers need to be confident that their team members are highly skilled and reflecting the right image of their school. These NVQs enable those working within a customer service environment to demonstrate their skills and knowledge against national standards.
Level 2 is for those who need to demonstrate initiative in the handling of non-routine activities.
Level 3 is for those who handle a wide range of complex tasks and can demonstrate organisational and supervisory skills.
At Level 2 you will complete 2 Mandatory and 5 Option Units, and 2 Mandatory and 6 Option Units at Level 3.
The Optional Units at Level 2 include a wide range of topics such as:-
Promoting additional services or products
Resolving customer service problems
Developing customer relationships
Level 3 Option Units include:
Organising the promotion of services or products
Leading a team to improve customer service
Gathering, analysing and interpreting customer feedback
Learners will demonstrate their skills in their work place environment. They will be supported and assessed continually throughout this process. Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration
NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration
Around 50% of the UK workforce is employed in business administration or work in roles that demand administration skills on a daily basis. Clearly, administration skills are crucial to the effectiveness and efficiency of schools. These NVQs enable those working in school administration to demonstrate their performance, knowledge and skills and gain a nationally recognised industry qualification.
Mandatory Units for both levels:
Carry out your responsibilities at work - This Unit looks at the basic skills required for administration such as communicating, managing time and team work. At Level 2 the Unit includes planning, solving problems and evaluating, at Level 3 it includes researching and negotiating.
Work within your business environment - This Unit gives an appreciation of the administration processes surrounding the values of your own organisation, employment rights and responsibilities, diversity and working with others, maintaining security and confidentiality.
You will also choose from a wide range of Optional Units, which allow the qualification to be adapted to your own particular work role.
At Level 2 you will study 3 Optional Units chosen from a list including topics such as managing customer relations, managing diary systems, processing financial transactions, storing, retrieving and archiving information, organising and supporting meetings, using IT systems.
At Level 3 you will choose 4 Optional Units from a list including such additional topics as supervising an office facility, organising and co-ordinating events, team leadership, researching, analysing and reporting information.
Learners will demonstrate their skills in their work place environment. They will be supported and assessed continually throughout this process. Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
NVQ Level 2 in Team Leading
This flexible, work-based qualification has been designed for team leaders who are looking to motivate their team members and achieve results and gain a nationally recognised qualification.
There are four mandatory units:
Manage your own resources
Provide leadership for your team
Develop productive working relationships with colleagues
Health and safety
Two optional units are chosen from a list covering topics such as encouraging innovation, allocating and checking work, helping colleagues to address problems and providing them with learning opportunities, participating in meetings, dealing with customer service problems and improvements.
Learners will demonstrate their skills in their work place environment. They will be supported and assessed continually throughout this process. Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
NVQ Level 3 in Management
If you are a practising manager or supervisor, this qualification will allow you to develop your practical competence in the workplace to nationally recognised standards.
There are four mandatory units
Manage your own resources and professional development
Provide leadership
Allocate and monitor the progress and quality of work
Health and safety
Three optional units are chosen from a list covering topics such as encouraging innovation, planning and implementing change, team building, decision making and leading meetings.
Learners will demonstrate their skills in their work place environment. They will be supported and assessed continually throughout this process. Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
NVQ Level 2 in Activity Leadership
This qualification m may be just right for you if you lead physical activities in after school club or recreational programmes. It aims to assess the competence of those leading activities sessions for particular sports, or offering taster recreational sessions. This NVQ consists of five mandatory units and two optional units.
The Mandatory units are:
Prepare for a session
Lead a session
Conclude and review a session
Contribute to the work of your team
Promote safety in the sport and activity environment
Learners will demonstrate their skills in their work place environment. They will be supported and assessed continually throughout this process. Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
NVQ Level 3 in Learning and Development
The NVQ Level 3 in Learning and Development is designed for those who deliver and/or develop learning and development programmes and those who support learners.
The qualification consists of seven mandatory and four optional units.
Mandatory units:
Identify individual learning aims and programmes
Agree learning programmes with learners
Develop training sessions
Create a climate that promotes learning
Monitor and review progress with learners
Respond to changes in learning and development
Evaluate and develop own practice
Four optional units are chosen from a list of 13.
Learners will demonstrate their skills in their work place environment. They will be supported and assessed continually throughout this process. Learners plan a programme of development and assessment with their assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that they are competent and knowledgeable to NVQ standards in their work role.
