With an Apprenticeship, you can earn money while you’re learning and gain recognised qualifications as you work.
As employees, Apprentices earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Off the job, usually on a day-release basis, Apprentices receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications. Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the Apprentices’ ability and the industry sector.
Stoke on Trent College works with hundreds of businesses across the local area, helping you find the most cost-effective and practical solutions to compete in an increasingly global business landscape.
College Mission
"Delivering Excellence in Learning, Skills and Employability."
Strategic Aims
Aim 1: Deliver Excellence in Teaching & Learning
Aim 2: Put our learners and customers first
Aim 3: Invest in an efficient, sustainable & profitable organisation
Aim 4: Optimise business growth opportunities
Childcare, health & social care jobs can be very rewarding, with the potential to help care for people of all ages in a wide range of work settings. The choice of jobs is diverse, from the medical treatment of patients to working in a nursery.
With jobs in both the NHS and the private sector available, healthcare is a major employer in the UK. There are a number of different types of career within the industry, to suit a variety of people. If you know that you would like a career working with children, then childcare courses offer a great way to progress from entry level to Foundation degrees. Many childcare students then go on to higher education too.
At Stoke on Trent College, you will be learning in our new £11 million Lifestyle Building, which offers industry standard, cutting-edge facilities in which to take your course. What’s more, you can be sure of experienced tutors offering one-to-one support, great opportunities to progress and different levels of courses to suit all needs. Importantly, we offer work placements in a range of environments to make sure you get the experience you need.
Gaining employment in a childcare setting will allow students to study for an Advanced Apprenticeship for the Children and Young People's Workforce. Once completed you will work as a supervisor within a setting and can progress further on to a HNC/HND or after 1 year of qualifying a Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies.
This qualification is suitable for laboratory staff with qualifications beyond level 1 who want to gain a higher qualification whilst in the work place.
This course is suitable for science trainees or laboratory staff with qualifications beyond level 2 who want to gain a higher qualification whilst in the work place.
Entry Level vocational courses for students aged 16 - 19. This course is for students who may need to work on their English, Maths and Personal and Social skills before progressing onto a level 1 vocational course.
This course is for students who may need to improve their English, maths, and personal and social skills before progressing onto a Level 1 vocational course.
During this course you will develop your skills to care for children, as well as gaining practical experience in a childcare setting. There is an added focus on developing your personal and social skills.
In this course, you will begin to find out about how babies and children grow and develop during their early years, and you will have the opportunity to get some practical experience within a childcare setting. You will also study Functional Skills, as well as personal and social development.
The level 2 Certificate is designed to provide you with the training needed to begin working with children, or the skills and confidence to carry on with further study. The course is made up of mandatory and option units studied over 1 year. All learners will spend 2 days each week in a real work environment where they will be assessed on practical skills working with children.
The Children and Young Peopleís Workforce Diploma allows you to work in a variety of supervisory roles within the children and young peopleís workforce. It is made up of core mandatory units, mandatory pathway units and optional units which are all based on either skills or knowledge. Learners need to successfully complete the Diploma to progress on to the Extended Diploma.
These courses are suitable for developing skills already learnt, transforming them to industry recognised standards in various roles working with adults and young people.
Health and Social Care students become competent in subjects including care services, lifespan development and health promotion.
Are you interested in working in Health and Social Care or with Children and Young People then this course will give you an opportunity to explore these vocational areas and progress.This course will help you to develop the skills required in your chosen career, with an added focus on your personal and social development. Functional Skills are an integral part of the course.
Do you want to work with adults in a care setting then this course is for you? The course allows learners to study the theory in college and then work in a care setting for 2 days each week linking the theory to the practical hands on experience in the job. The theory gives the underpinning knowledge for the Apprenticeship
If you are interested in working in social care then this qualification provides the underpinning knowledge. It aims to introduce some basic concepts of caring and preparation for employment in the sector.This qualification allows learners to link theory to practice and demonstrate their practical ability in a social care setting. Learners will spend part of the week in College and 2 days per week in a real work environment.
This qualification provides learners with the skills and knowledge needed to manage practice and lead others in adult health and social care provision or in Children and Young People's services. It has six pathways, three for those working with adults and three for those working with children and young people.
This course will give you the training you need to develop your skills as a Child Care worker with supervisory responsibilities. Completing this course could enable you to progress in your career or progress onto further courses of study.
This qualification is designed for those wanting to develop their knowledge of safe handling of medicines. The course aims to provide students with an opportunity to gain increased understanding of the use of medication and its side effects and to enhance their knowledge of safe administration of medicine. It provides the students with a thorough understanding regarding the principles and practices of working with medication.
This is a 3 hour course which leads to a college certificate in Dementia Awareness. The course is aimed at anyone with an interest in learning more about Dementia; this may include health care workers, friends and family sufferers. The course will examine the effects of Dementia on the individual and the management of the illness to minimise its effects on the individual. The certificate will be awarded on successful completion of the course. All students must actively engage with the course. There is no formal examination.
This certificate will guide and assess development of knowledge and skills relating to early learning and childcare. It also confirms competence, as students will be assessed in the workplace as part of their training.
There are five mandatory units:
Understanding end of life care;
Communication during end of life care;
Person centred approaches to end of life care;
Care during the final hours of life; bereavement care.
This is a 3 hour course which leads to a college certificate in Palliative Care Awareness. The course is aimed at anyone with an interest in learning more about Palliative Care and the assistance that is required for those suffering from terminal illnesses. The course will examine the impact on the individual and how to adopt a holistic approach to the individual's care. The certificate will be awarded on successful completion of the course. All students must actively engage with the course. There is no formal examination.
The Higher National Certificate is a 10 unit qualification of which 6 are core units that are mandatory. It has been developed to provide individuals with the knowledge, skills and understanding required for success in employment in the early years sector at supervisory or management level or for progression to an undergraduate degree. Learners wanting to move into management may also progress to the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership.
As a response to the National Childcare Strategy, and the increased demand for nursery and educational places, the role of the Early Years Practitioner is becoming increasingly important. This results in the need for a well-qualified staff who can demonstrate a wide range of skills, knowledge and understanding. Owners of Private Day Nurseries, LEAs, Head Teachers and Colleges recognise that the current and future demands on such staff require education and training which not only meets the needs of the employer, but that also offers the opportunity to develop personally and professionally. In response to meet these needs, we have the Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies.
KEY FACTS ABOUT CHILDCARE, HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE
Over 240,000 healthcare jobs in the Northwest
Experienced social workers can earn up to £40,000 a year
Newly qualified NHS nurses earn around £21,000 a year
Qualified teachers earn up to £39,000 a year
100% of students completing the Level 3 Childcare and Education Diploma went into higher education or employment.
POPULAR CAREER PROGRESSION:
Childcare Development Officer
Classroom Assistant
Early Years Practitioner
Midwife
Nanny
Nurse Practitioner
Nursery Nurse
Occupational Therapist
Playworker
Social Worker
Charlotte Wooliscroft
Charlotte is studying towards her BTEC National Diploma in order to study at university to be an adult
nurse. She has found both her course and college life really enjoyable.
Charlotte says:
“Taking the BTEC National Diploma is the best route for me to go on to university. I’ve enjoyed my course and found it really interesting – I have learned something new with every unit. The three placements I took in my first year were great, and gave me a really good insight into how caring professions work in practice.
“My advice would be to get involved with all the other opportunities on offer at college alongside your course. There’s plenty to do, such as the Challenge South Africa scheme which I enjoyed taking part in.”
