iLearn Working with Children and Young People

Location

Applicant Type

Adults

Level

Short Course

Subject

Early Years & Childcare

Course Overview

The iLearn Working with Children and Young People course is a 3‑week, classroom‑based training programme that supports you to develop knowledge and practical skills for working with children and young people in a range of settings. This includes environments such as schools, nurseries, community groups and sports clubs.

During the course, you can learn about key responsibilities involved in working with children and young people, including safeguarding, health and safety, and professional behaviour. The programme introduces you to expectations within child‑focused environments, helping you understand how adults contribute to children’s wellbeing, learning and development. You will also explore wider workplace topics alongside child‑focused learning. These include communication and customer service, mental health awareness, emergency first aid, conflict management, personal development and maintaining wellbeing at work.

Together, these areas support you to build confidence, self‑awareness and appropriate professional behaviours when working with others. This course provides structured classroom learning to help you gain a clearer understanding of working with children and young people and the responsibilities involved.

By the end of the programme, you will have developed transferable skills and sector awareness that support progression into further training or work related to education, childcare or youth‑focused environments. This course is delivered at our Southend and Thurrock campuses, as well as our Centre for Digital Technologies in Basildon.

Entry Requirements

To study this course, you must have a good command of the English language and complete a basic English assessment.

English assessment: Participation in this course requires the successful completion of a basic English assessment. This assessment is essential not only to meet awarding body and funding requirements but also to ensure you have the necessary language skills to complete the written components of the programme. If you do not meet the required standard, we can refer you to our English department, who may be able to offer funded lessons to support the development of your English skills.

Mandatory attendance, Coursework & Homework: Achieving the large number of qualifications offered on this course requires a high level of dedication and commitment. As such, full attendance at all classroom sessions is mandatory, and all coursework must be completed to ensure successful completion of the programme objectives. We recommend you set aside 1-3 hours per day for homework to ensure you meet the course deadlines. Lateness or requests to leave early may result in your place on the course being withdrawn.

Identification requirements: Candidates must provide one of the following forms of identification: Valid in-date passport (any nationality), signed in-date UK photocard driving licence, birth certificate (BUT, if a birth certificate is presented as proof of identification, an additional form of identification such as a signed bank card, utility bill or a letter issued by a government department must also be provided).

Assessment and Feedback

Three weeks in total delivered as follows:

Weeks 1 & 2 will be Monday to Thursday 10:00-16:00. These weeks are on offer at Southend, Basildon or Thurrock College
Week 3 will be Monday to Thursday 10:00-16:00 at Southend City College

Venue addresses

Southend City College, Luker Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1ND
Centre for Digital Technologies – Basildon, College Way, Basildon, SS14 1GP
Thurrock College, High Street, Grays, RM17 6TF

Fees and Funding

This course is FREE to those who were over 19 on 31/08/2026, are unemployed, resident in England and in receipt of Universal Credit or similar benefits. It is also FREE to those who were over the age of 19 on 31/08/2026 and are earning under £25,750 per year (you will need to provide us with evidence of your income in order to qualify to take a course for free).

We regret that we cannot provide iLearn courses for free to individuals who reside in the following combined authorities: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City, North of Tyne, South Yorkshire, Tees Valley, West Midlands, West Yorkshire and West of England.

Future study/career options

This programme provides a strong foundation for starting a career working with children and young people in schools, nurseries, community settings and sports clubs. On completion, learners can apply for roles such as Teaching Assistant, Classroom Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, Additional Needs Assistant, Nursery Worker, Pre-School Assistant, Playgroup Assistant, Lunchtime Assistant, Pastoral and Welfare Support Assistant, Sports Club Assistant, Youth Worker and Youth Club Assistant. The combination of safeguarding, paediatric first aid, customer service, health and wellbeing and employability training can help learners build confidence, strengthen their CV and progress towards further training and rewarding careers supporting children and young people.

Study Commitment

3 weeks, Monday to Thursday 10:00-16:00

Additional Information

3 weeks, Monday to Thursday 10:00-16:00