RE:Childcare Courses

MonkeyTail

Hi,

Just looking for some advice. I’m thinking doing a night course in childcare, can anyone suggest some good courses in South Dublin or Dublin City Centre???

Postgrad10

Hi monkeytail
Congrats on deciding on a course you would like do. Is there a particular aspect that you would like to study? Or would you like to have a career in Childcare? Many PLC's or VEC's run Fetac 5 in the evening times in Childcare. Or if you have experience with children maybe portobello college Montessori teaching would be the way to go. They run part time options too. Some of the IT's are running part time evening degrees too( Blanchardstown and DIT). Alternatively Ucd do a part time diploma in nursery management. Chevron training do online fetac courses and Dorset college has a correspondance course in Childcare and psychology. Whatever you do male sure your course is fetac accredited and if you do fetac level 5 and want a career in Childcare make sure you go on to do level 6. By 2012, preschool leaders will have to be level 6's in order to be eligible for the preschool year scheme

Postgrad10

Also check out www.southdublinchildcare.ie/provider_training.htm
and see the courses available there.
Www.ippa.ie also run part time options. Good luck

MonkeyTail

Thanks for the advice. I was looking at the following course:
http://www.jobs.ie/TrainingCourses/Early-Childhood-Care-and-Education-for-Childcare-Workers-FETAC-Level-8893.aspx
I’m just finding it difficult to pick one, there seems to be so many different courses to choose from. Ideally I would like to do a course that enables me to work in a crèche. I’ve seen a few courses that take two years part time, what is the difference between these and the above course?

Postgrad10

Hi
The above course is level 5 and I think it can be done part time too? It has a very good reputation and there's plenty of follow on courses to progress to such as management or montessori teaching. They also give you a few extra certs which would make your cv stand out from those just with level 5 only. They also give you the option of special needs assistants course for a small fee when you've completed the level 5. :)Dont forget to do level 6, 4 modules extra to qualify for the free preschool scheme too. Good luck.

MonkeyTail

Just found out that to work in childcare you need to have the Major Award at Level 5 which costs €3000 and takes two years part time

Postgrad10

The preschool regulations state at present that a crèche should aim to have at least 50 percent of it's staff qualified. You could try and get a part time job as an assistant unqualified whilst doing your course. There are many places that would be delighted to get you in as a substitute too, get yourself a first aid cert for children and they take care of the vetting. I would advise you to try and do it through your local vec or fas. They can subsidise it and you could maybe pay per module if you need to. Or even get it for free depending on your circumstances. The private colleges do charge a lot. Keep in mind that by 2012, all preschool leaders will have to have the fetac 6 major award so keep aiming for that as major award 5 won't really be enough.

Coggeh

MonkeyTail wrote: »

Just found out that to work in childcare you need to have the Major Award at Level 5 which costs €3000 and takes two years part time

cost me 400 eur .. doesn't it depend on the school ?

StandardAngel

Coggeh wrote: »

cost me 400 eur .. doesn't it depend on the school ?

Was that a night course? I have been looking up night courses online and the cheapest in my area is €1500, was hoping for something a little less expensive! If i was to do a day course it would only cost €250 but i cant afford to give up work to do it

sunnygirl24

hi im looking to complete a level 6 childcare course i live in the mulingar area,do you know is there any part time courses avaiable?