Going back to work and finding out what my qualifications are worth?

Onearmedbandit_2

Hi I am currently looking at going back into employment after 13 years of raising my 6 beautiful children. Oldest 13 and youngest 4. I did a Btec National Diploma in childcare(nursery nursing) It was a fulltime 2 year course. I qualified in 1996. I worked as a nanny and in a nursery before i was married and had my children.
My concern is now that they have replaced it with various other courses.So my question is, Is it still valid and worth the same as when i did it. Is it the same as a level 3 Nvq or CaCHE? I have looked on the internet but cant make head nor tail of it.
Im wondering what i could do on top of this to broaden my horizons (perhaps a btec hnd)?
Im only 34 but feel im over the hill. Am also hoping that raising my children will be not looked upon in a negative way as its a huge gap to have in my cv. Although i have been a mothers help over the last 3 years to a little boy with downs syndrome Thanks.

Iffy_Wallet

I don't work in this field so wouldn't know. However, have you thought of approaching a local college that awards such qualifications and asking to have a short chat with them? You never know, they may be very helpful.

Good luck.

paddedjohn

Pop into your nearest nursery and ask, they should know.

Teacher2301

From a overall point of view, you are not alone, there are 1000's of children who will be leaving school this year with some qualifications that employers will not recognize (some students as well for that fact!) This is compound by the fury caused by the government getting rid of GCSE equivalent status for some BTEC's and this is causing employers to wonder what any qualification means, This risk is that many talented adults (like yourself OP) are now in a position where no-one understands what their qualification means and therefore resort to a traditional view of what GCSE's have you got? The problems that this causes are that those with the right skills never get to interview. Slightly off topic I know but this is a problem that is brewing up for the current teenage generation.

bekkki1

Yes its the same as a level 3. I started my Btec in the 90's but never finished it, I went back to college last yr and have just finished my CACHE level 3, all nurserys/schools etc prefer staff to have a minimum level 3, and in the next few years it is going to be made compulsory.

Im now going to do my level 4 (HNC) which is part time at college where you have to be in employment/have a voluntry placement.

Maybe you could do some voluntry work to get you back into it at your childrens school?