Our courses and qualifications

Transcription

1 Our courses and qualifications learndirect.co.uk

2 Why learndirect? Here are 10 reasons to learn with us Our online courses lead to nationally recognised qualifications in English, maths, IT, job seeking skills and more. We can help you boost your CV, improve your job prospects and build your confidence. Our online courses are flexible and designed to fit around you and your life. You can learn in one of our centres or from home or work, wherever you have access to the internet. You can start straight away and it s not like learning at school or college. We ll support you every step of the way face to face in a centre or by phone or . Thanks to government funding your course may be FREE When you enrol we ll agree a target end date with you and we ll have regular progress reviews with you to chat about how you re getting on. We ll tailor our courses to meet your needs, so you won t learn what you already know. You can also use our online community for support. The community is there to give you help and advice, or just for you to make new friends and chat with other learners. We ve already helped more than 3.5 million people transform their lives by gaining new skills or qualifications, so how can we help you? 2 Our learners gave us a 97% learner satisfaction score in our survey!

3 What s inside? Take a quick look inside this booklet to find out how our courses and qualifications can help improve your skills. English Qualifications Page 4 Need to improve your everyday English skills? We can help you with your reading, writing, spelling, grammar and more. Maths Qualifications Page 6 Struggling with numbers? We ll help you learn how to subtract, work with money and use things like percentages or fractions. IT Qualifications Page 8 Want to make more of your computer skills? We can help you use spreadsheets, send s, create presentations and even keep your computer safe. Job Seeking Skills Qualifications / Life Skills Qualifications Page 10 Whether you want to improve your CV writing and interview skills or even your parenting skills, we offer a range of entry level and level 1 courses to boost your job seeking and everyday life skills. Other Qualifications Page 12 We have a range of qualifications to help you develop your business and job specific skills. Next Steps Page 14 Want to get started? Just follow three easy steps. Courses to buy online Page 16 Want to start topping up your skills and start learning straight away? Starting at just 9.99 (+VAT) our ecourses cover everything from accounting with Sage to web design and food hygiene. Simply buy online and you re ready to go.

4 English Qualifications Do you need an English qualification to improve your CV or get a job? Would you like to boost your confidence in punctuation, spelling or reading? If so, we can help. We understand that English skills are part of our everyday lives. If you need help writing your CV, completing a job application form or understanding what a leaflet is telling you, then gaining our nationally recognised English qualification from City & Guilds will help you apply your English skills in a practical way. What will I learn? You ll cover subjects such as: Reading Writing Grammar and punctuation Spelling Vocabulary Speaking and listening We ll help you gain the essential skills you need to make communicating easier at work and at home, and you ll get a qualification too. To find out more about these courses and read a more detailed description of what you ll learn, just visit How much will it cost? Thanks to government funding, our English qualifications are free for most of our learners. We ll confirm this with you before you start. How long will it take me? Learning with us is flexible, so how long it takes to gain your English qualification depends on how many hours a week you can spend on your learning. On average, it takes around three months to gain one of our English qualifications but we ll agree a target end date with you when you start. Is an English qualification right for me? When you enrol with us we ll first check which level of qualification you should be working towards. This could be entry level, level 1 or level 2. By doing this, it also means that you only do the courses you need to so you don t have to learn what you already know. Check out the simple guide at the back of this booklet which shows the different levels of our qualifications. You can do different sized qualifications at each level, depending on your learning needs. This could mean your qualification might only need to cover a few subjects like spelling or writing. Or you may need to focus on a broader range of English subjects. 4 Our English and maths qualifications are awarded by City & Guilds.

5 Jacqueline Devlin : I never thought I would find permanent employment in an area of work that I enjoy so much, and I have the whole team at learndirect to thank for that. What support will I get? By enrolling at one of our centres, you ll get face to face support from our friendly staff. You can still learn from home, work, or anywhere you have an internet connection. During your learning, you ll have regular progress reviews with your tutor at your centre to see how you re getting on. If you enrol online from our website, then you ll get support from your tutor by telephone and . As part of your learning you ll also have regular progress reviews with your tutor by phone and . Getting your qualification The great thing about our English qualifications is that there s no test! For each course, you ll do tasks and activities (called assignments and worksheets) to build up a folder of your learning work (called a portfolio) and show how you can apply your new skills. Once you ve done this, your work will be reviewed by City & Guilds to gain your qualification. How do I get started? Talk to staff at your nearest learndirect centre. To find a centre visit centres or call I did a course from home with learndirect and then went on to get a job working with children. English Qualifications 5 5

6 Maths Qualifications Need a maths qualification to boost your CV and help you get a job? Want to improve your everyday maths skills? Then we can help. We know how important maths skills are in everyday life at work, at the shops and even at home. Our nationally recognised maths qualifications from City & Guilds will help you apply your maths skills in a practical way. What will I learn? You ll cover subjects such as: Numbers Fractions and decimals Subtraction, addition, multiplication and division Shapes and space Percentages Measurements Handling data Money We ll help you gain the essential skills you need to solve number problems easily at work and at home, and you ll get a qualification too. To find out more about these courses and read a more detailed description of what you ll learn, just visit How much will it cost? Thanks to government funding, gaining a maths qualification is free for most of our learners. We ll confirm this with you before you start. How long will it take me? Learning with us is flexible, so how long it takes to gain your maths qualification depends on how many hours a week you can spend on your learning. On average, it takes around three months to gain one of our maths qualifications but we ll agree a target end date with you when you start. 6 Our English and maths qualifications are awarded by City & Guilds.

7 I really wanted to get to grips with maths so I could get ahead at work. Is this maths qualification right for me? When you enrol with us we ll first check which level of qualification you should be working towards. This could be entry level, level 1 or level 2. By doing this, it also means that you only do the courses you need to so you don t have to learn what you already know. Anna Sims: The tutors were fantastic with me, especially helping me with maths. They explained formulas in a visual way that really helped me to understand them. Check out our simple guide at the back of this booklet which shows the different qualification levels. You can do different sized qualifications at each level, depending on your learning needs. This could mean your qualification might only need to cover a few subjects like numbers or shapes. Or you may need to focus on a broader range of maths subjects. What support will I get? By enrolling at one of our centres, you ll get face to face support from our friendly staff. You can still learn from home, work, or anywhere you have an internet connection. During your learning, you ll have regular progress reviews with your tutor at your centre to see how you re getting on. If you enrol online from our website, then you ll get support from your tutor by telephone and . As part of your learning you ll also have regular progress reviews with your tutor by phone and . Getting your qualification The great thing about our maths qualifications is that there s no test! For each course, you ll do tasks and activities (called assignments and worksheets) to build up a folder of your learning work (called a portfolio) and show how you can apply your new skills. Once you ve done this, your work will be reviewed by City & Guilds to gain your qualification. How do I get started? Talk to staff at your nearest learndirect centre. To find a centre visit or call Maths Qualifications 7

8 IT Qualifications Do you need an IT qualification to help you get a job or get ahead at work? Would you like to be able to use a computer and the internet more confidently? If so, then we have the courses for you. We offer a range of IT courses, some of which lead to a nationally recognised qualification. What will I learn? Our IT courses cover the basics of using a computer and how to use a range of popular Microsoft Office software packages such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. We offer IT qualifications at different levels: Functional Skills in ICT (entry level) This qualification is for total beginners and people with some basic IT skills. It s a great start to learning and improving your IT skills if you want to: learn how to use computers to keep in touch with friends and family use computers to make your day-to-day tasks easier learn the basics of using a computer before moving on to a higher level qualification The Functional Skills in ICT qualification is for learners at entry level 2 and entry level 3. ECDL or ITQ (levels 1 and 2) The ECDL and ITQ are both nationally recognised IT qualifications and are a great way to show employers that you have the skills they need. They can also help to improve your job prospects or even help you feel more comfortable using a computer in your spare time. They cover the following areas and start with the basics at level 1 and progressing onto subjects at level 2: Computer basics Using the internet and Using popular Microsoft Office software packages like Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Access Computer and internet security Improving IT productivity Our friendly staff at your nearest learndirect centre will talk through your options with you. They will tailor your learning to suit your needs so you don t have to learn what you already know. Check out our simple guide at the back of this booklet which shows the different qualification levels. 8

9 My tutor s been great in supporting me and helping me to understand parts of the course that I ve found difficult. How much will it cost? Thanks to government funding you may get your IT qualification for free. We ll confirm this with you before you start. How long will it take me? Learning with us is flexible, so how long it takes to gain your IT qualification depends on how many hours a week you can spend on your learning. Before you start, we ll agree a target end date with you so you know what you re working towards. Once you ve finished all your courses, there are different ways you might gain your qualification. You ll either build up a folder (called a portfolio) of your work for it to be reviewed, or you ll take some online tests. We ll make sure you ll get lots of practice before the tests to make sure you re completely prepared. What support will I get? You can enrol on one of our IT qualifications by popping into your nearest learndirect centre. While you re learning you ll get face to face support from our centre staff. You can still learn from home, work, or anywhere you have an internet connection and you can also talk to your tutor over the phone or by if you don t have time to pop into the centre. During your learning, you ll have regular progress reviews with your tutor at your centre to see how you re getting on. You ll even be able to join our online community where you can talk to other learners, ask for help, and make new friends too. How do I get started? Talk to staff at your nearest learndirect centre. To find a centre visit or call IT Qualifications John Baker: I m now so much more comfortable with computers and I ve got a lot more confidence in my own abilities. 9

10 Job Seeking Skills Qualifications Do you want to learn how to write a great CV or letter? Would you like to be more confident in an interview? If so, then our courses will help you prepare for finding a job, understand all about keeping a job and feel confident in interviews. We ll help you gain the essential skills you need to get into work. You ll get a solid base for employment and further learning, and a qualification too. What will I learn? We ve got a range of courses that will help you improve your job seeking and work skills. They cover topics such as: Searching for a job Writing a letter Creating your CV Filling in application forms Interview skills Presentation Teamwork What level can I study at? The Job Seeking and Employability qualification is for learners working towards entry level 3, and level 1. When you first enrol with us, we ll check which level of qualification you should be working towards. We ll then see what skills you already have in the different areas of the qualification, for example working in a team or filling out application forms. This helps us to work out which courses are right for you, so you don t repeat what you already know. How much will it cost? Thanks to government funding, gaining a qualification in job seeking skills and life skills is free for most of our learners. We ll confirm this with you before you start. 10

11 Life Skills Qualifications Looking for a qualification that can boost your skills in everyday areas of your life? Do you need to organise yourself and your home life more efficiently? Job seeking skills Our life skills courses give you the everyday skills you need to organise your home and family, or understand the world of work. They also provide a useful base for further learning and can help boost your confidence too. What will I learn? Our life skills courses cover subjects like: Managing your own money Healthy living Parenting awareness Working as part of a group Community Action What level can I study at? The life skills qualifications are for learners working towards entry levels 2 and 3. When you first enrol with us, we ll check which level of qualification you should be working towards. We ll then see what skills you already have in the different areas of the qualification, for example time management or healthy eating. This helps us to work out which courses are right for you, so you don t repeat what you already know. Check out our simple guide at the back of this booklet which shows the different qualification levels. Job Seeking Skills Life Skills How long will it take me? Learning with us is flexible, so how long it takes to gain your qualification depends on how many hours a week you can spend on your learning. Before you start we ll agree with you a target end date for your learning so you know what you re working towards. How do I get started? To start learning with us and gain your qualification, pop into your nearest learndirect centre. To find a centre visit 115

12 Other Qualifications Are you in work and want to progress your career? Do you want to develop new skills to help you at work? 12

13 Business and job specific skills We offer a range of work based vocational qualifications, similar to NVQs, that you can do through a selection of our centres. They cover subjects such as: Business and Administration Customer Service Health and Social Care Team Leading Management Retail It s worth bearing in mind that not all of our centres offer these qualifications and work experience so please check with your nearest centre first. These qualifications are great if you re working, sponsored by an employer or doing voluntary work or a work placement. You ll need the support of your employer as you ll be assessed on the day to day things you do at work, creating a portfolio of evidence as you go along to show what you ve achieved. How do I get started? To find out more about these qualifications and read a more detailed course description of what you ll learn, just visit If you think one of these qualifications could be right for you, the easiest thing to do is visit to find your nearest centre and see if they offer the qualification you re interested in or call Cherry Smuk: I feel like I ve been given a real head start achieving my NVQ and I m enjoying learning every day. I developed lots of useful skills through learndirect that I ve been able to apply to my administration role so it s been very relevant to my job. Other Qualifications 13

14 Next Steps It s really easy to get started. If you want to gain a qualification with us, just follow the simple steps below. 1 2 Come and see us Talk to staff in your nearest centre about what you d like to achieve. We ll put together a range of courses and qualifications to meet your needs. To find your nearest centre, visit Let s see where you re at We ll work out together what level you re at and what skills you already have. We ll also be able to let you know how much, if anything, you need to pay towards the cost of your learning. Next, we ll make sure you re set up on the right qualification and then talk you through how we ll work together to track your progress. 14

15 3 Start learning! Learning with us is flexible so you can fit your learning around your life. You ll have tutor support every step of the way to keep you going whether it s by phone or from home, or face to face in a centre. You can also join our online community of learners to get any extra support you need. Got any more questions? Talk to staff at your nearest learndirect centre. To find a centre visit or call Next Steps 15

16 Courses to buy online Do you want to learn new skills to boost your CV or help you at work? Would you like to buy now and start learning straight away? If so, then our ecourses could be right for you. You can buy an ecourse today and start learning right now by visiting What courses do you have? There are more than 300 ecourses to choose from, covering a range of work-based skills. Subject areas include: Computers and Software (including Microsoft Office) Health and Safety Sales and Marketing Financial Management Leadership and Management Communication Skills Customer Service Compliance Accounting (Sage) Languages I enjoyed the flexibility of learning from home. If you d like to buy an ecourse just visit ecourses to get started! 16

17 How much will it cost? ecourses start from as little as 9.99 (+VAT), so you can get the skills you need without having to spend a fortune. Just visit our ecourses website for a full list of prices. How long will it take me? It depends on the course, but many can be completed in just a few hours. All our ecourses are provided with six months access (12 months for the language courses) which means you can pace yourself and revisit your learning during this time. Will I get a qualification? Most of our ecourses are not linked to a qualification with one or two exceptions. See the ecourses catalogue for details. What support will I get? ecourses have all the help you need built in, so you don t need any extra tutor support. Of course, if you have any technical difficulties, there s a helpline you can call where we ll be happy to help. How do I get started? You can browse the ecourses catalogue at Just add any courses you want to buy to your shopping basket, pay online and start learning straight away. Kevin Roberts Being able to learn from home was brilliant as I could learn around looking after my kids, and I often studied in the evening. 17 Courses to buy online

18 A summary of our qualifications The table below shows our qualification levels and the subjects we offer qualifications in at that level. Maths English IT Job seeking skills Life skills Business and job specific skills Entry Level Level Level level

19 If you re not sure what our qualification levels are similar to, please have a look at this table: Entry level qualification Level 1 qualification Level 2 qualification Level 3 qualification An entry level qualification might be right for you if you ve been away from learning for a long time and need help to build your skills. This is similar to having: 1 GCSE below grade G This is similar to having a GCSE at grades D G And also: NVQ level 1 GNVQ Foundation Key skills level 1 Functional Skills level 1 This is similar to having a GCSE at grade A* C And also: NVQ level 2 GNVQ Intermediate Key skills level 2 Functional Skills level 2 This is similar to an A level. And also: NVQ level 3 GNVQ Advanced Key skills level 3 Functional Skills entry level Foundation learning entry level 19

20 For more information about the courses and qualifications we offer, talk to staff in your nearest learndirect centre. Your nearest learndirect centre is: For general enquiries visit or call learndirect Ltd September All rights reserved. learndirect is a registered trademark of learndirect Ltd. All information correct at time of going to press. SL/277/VO3