Cambridge Open College

Cornishgirl_2

Has anyone had any experiences with the Cambridge Open College? I want to do the CHild Care Level 3 diploma course but obv wanting to double check on how good the course is and ensure the diploma is recognised. Any advice appreciated! Tkyou!

heretolearn_2

1) If it's purely distance learning, unless you are combing that with on-the-job training/experience, it's value anyway is limited.

2) Level 3 diploma? Issued by who? Accredited by who? If it's just some diploma from the 'college' itself it's worthless. It can't be a Level 3 NVQ as you'd need to be working in child care as well. You need to ask them some very hard questions.

No point getting a piece of paper that isn't recognised by any employers.

Emmzi

Can you call up and ask who it is accredited by? It is billed as a diploma not and NVQ, first warning sign. No workplace time, warning sign 2. If you ask who accredits the course we can then give you a view but it isn't looking good!

Emmzi

also,

http://cornwall.floodlight.co.uk/cornwall/courses-classes-lessons/best-childcare-courses/qualification/study/region/16180339/220706/100/domain.html

johannavdv

Hi,
DO NOT do the Diploma with Cambridge open college.They are totally unprofessional and were extremely rude and unhelpful to me. A complete waste of time. I think it might even be a scam,not a real college...
Good luck finding a course!

purplehearts066

I have to agree - it is purely distance learning, there are no entry requirements, you can complete it in a suspiciously short amount of time -all the properly accredited level 3 childcare courses include work experience placements and CRB checks. The CACHE diploma takes 2 years full time, and most (if not all) colleges require entrants to have the level 2 CACHE or decent GCSEs/equivalent qualifications.
I can't see how a course not offering these could possibly match the standard of the CACHE diploma.
When employers state that they require level 3 qualifications, this means qualifications of an equal standard to A-levels such as NVQ 3 and BTEC (also work based).
I've looked at the website and nowhere does it specifically say whom the qualification is recognized and accredited by. It also does not specifically say that it qualifies you to be a nursery nurse. There's a lot of evasive weasel wording on the website.

This is from the Directgov/next steps website:
Nursery Nurse
To qualify as a nursery nurse you will need to complete the new Level 3 Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma, which was introduced in September 2010. If you already have a level 3 qualification such the following this will still be recognised:

CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education
BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development
NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development – you may need to arrange a relevant work placement.
You may be able to find work in a nursery as a trainee and attend college part-time to work towards qualifications.

So I would definitely avoid. You'd be better off registering part time at college, or trying to find a training vacancy or apprenticeship (try a connexions centre/Careers Wales office for more info on vacancies). Or if you want to do a distance learning course, try the Open University. the courses won't qualify you as a Nursery Nurse (like the Cambridge Open College) but unlike the Cambridge Open College, their courses are accredited and well respected. Many universities will also accept OU courses for entrance to undergraduate degrees, and if you are on a low income there is lots of funding available.

heretolearn_2

OU funding this year only now - so register quick if you want to do one. From next year they are changing to usual student loans.

cheekytiger

Hi i have received a reply to my email to them. This is what I wrote:

Hi I wondered if you can answer a couple of questions regarding the Teaching Assistant lv 3 course...

I volunteer at a local school and to be considered for a teaching Assistant position they require a level 3 qualification. I was planning on registering on the Children and Young Peoples Workforce course at a local college in April...

1, Would completion of your course enable me to apply for a position at the school?
2, Does your home based learning course earn the same level qualification as the college/work assessed course?
3, Who is the awarding body for the course?

Going via the college would mean having someone assess me whilst at school, as this isn't the case with your course I'm a little concerned that it won't be covering all the areas that the college covers and that the school will not see the completion of your course an acceptable qualification to apply for a permanent position.

And this is their reply:

Unfortunately, the TA L3 home study course we run is not recognised by the CDWC (Childrens Development Workforce Council) as of yet. It is a home study course that doesn't come with any college attendance or work placements.

It sounds like you may need to do a full NVQ/Diploma level 3 where you enrol at your local college and an assessor comes out to your place of work on a regular basis to assess your performance in the classroom.

If you would like to speak to a course advisor for further clarification please do not hesitate to contact the college.

Kind regards,

Linda Price
Student Support

Sue_1979

Hello everyone, I would like to say I was Cambridge Open College last year and they were really great. There are 4 of us who all did the child care with cambridge and my 3 friends all had a good experience like me.

If you want a great helpful college i would recommend them and the course is good.

mynameistallulah

Sue_1979 wrote: »

Hello everyone, I would like to say I was Cambridge Open College last year and they were really great. There are 4 of us who all did the child care with cambridge and my 3 friends all had a good experience like me.

If you want a great helpful college i would recommend them and the course is good.

Despite the fact that you paid them for a worthless "qualification"?

DCFC79

Sue_1979 wrote: »

Hello everyone, I would like to say I was Cambridge Open College last year and they were really great. There are 4 of us who all did the child care with cambridge and my 3 friends all had a good experience like me.

If you want a great helpful college i would recommend them and the course is good.

You know the thread is from last year,