Your course to make change

Free Online Course:
Caring for Children & Young People - Level 2 Certificate

All children & young people deserve to be safe & well cared for

This qualification will give you an introductory understanding of childcare through exploring young children’s development, the value and importance of play, how to plan a healthy diet and the importance of safeguarding and welfare.

Limited Spaces

UK Government funded online course. Qualification accredited by NCFE CACHE

Free Online Course

Fully-funded by HM Government

100% Online

Learn from your home or office

Expert Support

Expert tutor support available

6 Week Course

4-5 hours of weekly study

Qualification aims & benefits

Achieve a nationally recognised Level 2 qualification
Evidence your competency to employers
Further your personal and professional development
Improve your understanding of the importance of correctly responding to evidence or concerns that a child or young person has been abused, harmed or bullied

About Caring for Children & Young People

All children and young people deserve to be safe and well cared for within a safe and protective family. However, unfortunately this is not always the case.

With over 50,000 children identified as needing protection from abuse in the UK, it is important that those working in the care sector understand the risks of abusive and exploitative behaviour that some children experience. Knowing what strategies are used to protect them from this behaviour, whilst following procedures, is essential to helping those affected.

Is it really free?

Simple answer – if you meet the eligibility criteria below, then, yes! No fee, no card details and no trial periods…

We connect you with training providers that use the UK Government’s Adult Education Budget to fund the free online courses.

Eligibility Criteria

*EEA nationals will need to have obtained either pre settlement or settled status and provide evidence of this.

Receive an accredited NCFE CACHE or TQUK certificate

The certificate is a record of achievement and your reward for completing a nationally recognised qualification.

NCFE CACHE and TQUK are both fully-approved as awarding organisations by Ofqual
Demonstrate to employers that you have gained a recognised and regulated qualification in your chosen subject
Last year alone, over a quarter of a million learners chose to learn via NCFE CACHE
Build the foundations to improve your job prospects

The free online course is split into manageable units

To be awarded the Level 2 Certificate in Caring for Children & Young People, you are required to successfully complete all course units.

Young children’s development

This unit will explore the stages of development of young children from birth to three years.

Alongside this, you will learn about how positive environments support the development of young children.

The value of play to young children

Within this unit you will learn about the necessity of play to young children’s development as well as demonstrating different play activities suitable for young children from birth to five years old.

Importance of play for early learning

This unit will take you through the vital importance of creativity and imagination in the development of a child. You will learn about how to organise a cooking activity for children as well as the particular importance of books and stories in child development.

Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

This unit examines legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people (including e-safety).

You will look at what action to take when children or young people are injured or ill and when complete, you will be able to recognise emergency procedures as well as how to respond to suspicions that a child or young people has been abused, harmed or bullied.

Use food and nutrition information to plan a healthy diet

This unit will help you to build an understanding of how to make healthy and nutritional food choices for children.

You will develop knowledge of food labels and what to look out for to ensure that children are given a balanced diet.

Free course sample

Download the sample workbook and get a taste of the free course content

Happy Learners in 2020

Join thousands of happy learners

Complete the short form below to register your interest in Caring for Children and Young People

Interested in this course as an organisation, business representative or charity?

Register interest and a course advisor will be in touch to discuss your organisation’s needs or learn more about Free Courses in England’s opportunities for organisations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can’t find the answer to your question?

Call us on 0800 001 5910, jump on live chat or email us

Is the course definitely free?

If you meet the eligibility criteria then YES!

We connect you with learning providers that use government funding, in the form of the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the Adult Educational Budget (AEB).

When can I start the free online course?

We hope to get you started within 24 hours of completing the full enrolment process but this can vary depending on the learning provider.

How long will the free online course take?

The courses are designed to allow learners to fit their learning around their employment obligations and can be completed in a number of weeks or months, depending on the level. Our shorter courses are often completed within 3 weeks, whilst our longer lasting courses can take up to 3 months.

Is it all online?

Yes! All of our free courses are 100% online.

Is the qualification recognised by employers?

All of our courses are accredited by UK government-recognised awarding bodies. These include NCFE CACHE and TQUK, with whom we work closely to ensure our existing courses, and all new ones, meet approved standards of excellence and are certified as such. NCFE CACHE and TQUK are national awarding organisations that design, develops and certifies nationally recognised qualifications and awards.

All qualifications are regulated by Ofqual and are the perfect way to boost any CV.

How many free online courses can I take?

You can only take one course at a time but you can take up to 7 in one academic year.

Do I need to sit an Exam?

No, there are no exams, all courses require you to complete assessment questions based on the knowledge you have just gained from the units.

Why am I required to upload such personal information?

The courses we offer are all funded qualifications, meaning you need to be eligible for government funding in order to secure your a place. This information is a funding requirement and proves your eligibility.