Care and Early Years
Thanks for visiting our Care and Early Years page. Here you'll find all the information you need to know about the health, social care and early years courses we offer.
For more information on a specific course, please use one of the search options below.
The care and early years sector is ideal for people who enjoy working with and helping others...
At Weston College, we’ve been working with employers such as North Bristol Health Trust and local primary schools to create exciting and informative courses to help kick start your future in the care and early years sector.
Care and early years matters. There aren’t many more worthwhile careers than caring for people or working with small children. Our courses are the first steps towards progressing in these areas. We provide high-quality learning opportunities and work placements in schools, nurseries and a range of health and care settings. Our courses and apprenticeships are designed to provide direct routes into employment or higher education.
Our staff are experienced professionals. Our highly qualified teachers and assessors have current and relevant experience working in a range of roles such as nursing, social workers, primary school teachers and early years practitioners. This knowledge is invaluable in ensuring our curriculum is industry relevant and current whilst developing the qualities and skills needed by learners to succeed in these professions.
There are many routes for progression. Completing a course in Care and Early Years opens more opportunities up than you might think. We have courses starting from Level 1 right up to degree-level, so we can support you all the way through each stage to help you achieve your career goals. Also. if you study at up to Level 3 with us and want to progress onto our Foundation Degree taught at University Centre Weston, we will be able to prioritise your application.
Why choose us?
- Course content. Many of the courses within this sector will involve a work placement, we work closely with employers to ensure that you’re learning the skills you need to thrive and succeed. Click on the dropdown menu at the top of this page to see our list of Care and Early Years courses and find out more about them.
- Reputation. We’re consistently ranked among the top colleges in the country, which means you can expect outstanding teaching and support to help you succeed.
- Success rates. Our Care and Early Years courses are proven to give people the skills they need to be work ready. Many of our former students have gone on to be a Child Officer, a Nursery Nurse, a Childminder, a Nursery Manager and an Early Years Practitioner, to name a few.
- Our facilities. Our Care and Early Years courses are taught at our Knightstone Campus, in which you will have access to specialist facilities including up-to-date clinical care equipment in a bespoke simulated practice room. You can find out more about our state-of-the-art facilities here.
- Our links with employers. We believe that work placements are a vital part of your learning in this sector, and have links with hundreds of organisations to help you gain experience.
Search Care and Early Years courses
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Career opportunities
Care
Typical jobs
Youth worker, elderly care assistant, health care assistant, personal assistant, ambulance care assistant, emergency care assistant, support worker.
What you can earn
Some suggested annual salary ranges for those working in the industry include:
- Care assistant £12,000-£18,000
- Ambulance care assistant £13,600-£16,750
- Emergency care assistant £15,600-£18,500
Local notes
There are 2,254 care homes and over 125,000 care workers in the south west. A fifth (over 35,000) social care workers in the south west may retire in the next 10 years (22% over 55 years old).
Facts
- 14% of jobs were community based
- 5% of jobs were in day care services
- 45% of jobs were carried out in the home
- 36% of adult social care jobs in 2011 were in residential care
Data from Direct.gov.uk and the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Early Years
Typical jobs
Nursery manager, nursery nurse, nursery assistant, nursery teacher, playworker, community nursery nurse, childminder, nanny, residential childcare worker.
What you can earn
Some suggested annual salary ranges for those working in the industry include:
- Playworker £12,000-£20,000
- Nursery nurse £14,000-£18,000
- Nursery teacher £21,102-£30,842
- Nursery manager £35,000+
- Community nursery nurse £18,400-£21,500
Local notes
There are 6,924 active early years registered providers in the south west
There are over 3,000 non-domestic premises providing childcare in the region and over 150 children’s centres.
Facts
- There are 51,000 childminders in the UK
- In 2009, 2,442,100 children had an early learning and care place
- Over a quarter of a million people are working within early years and childcare settings
Data from Direct.gov.uk and The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Review
It's easy to apply...
Applying for any of our Care and Early Years courses is easier than you think – you can apply online in a matter of minutes by selecting the course you’re interested in from the drop-down menu at the top of this page and clicking ‘apply now’. Alternatively, you can find an application form at the back of our prospectus.
Now is the perfect time to apply in order to secure your place on the course you are interested in. Submitting an application isn’t a binding decision and if you change your mind, you can always withdraw your application at a later date.
