Teaching and childcare articles
TA, HLTA, early years and FE teaching routes.
22 articles · 0 published in November · Updated 24 Oct 2026
Articles
22 articles in Teaching and childcare
Teaching and childcare
Level 3 childcare qualification explained: routes, cost and what counts in 2026
What a Level 3 childcare qualification is, which titles count as full and relevant, how long it takes, what it costs and how to get it free or online in 2026.
Teaching and childcare
How to Become a Teacher Without a Degree in the UK (2026 Routes)
Can you become a teacher without a degree in the UK? Yes, in further education. The 2026 routes compared: Level 5 Diploma in Teaching, QTLS, teacher degree apprenticeship, who each suits and what it costs.
Teaching and childcare
How to Become a Nursery Nurse: Qualifications, Pay and the Online Route
Nursery nurse explained: what the job is, the Level 3 qualification you need, pay, and how to qualify online with Lift College while working in a nursery.
Teaching and childcare
Level 5 Teaching Qualification: What It Is and How to Get It Online
A Level 5 teaching qualification lets you teach post-16 learners in further education without a degree. What it covers, placement hours, cost and the best online route.
Teaching and childcare
SEND Code of Practice Explained: What Schools Must Do
The SEND Code of Practice 0 to 25 explained: the four areas of need, the graduated approach, SENCO duties, EHCPs and what it means for teaching assistants.
Teaching and childcare
Childcare Apprenticeships Explained: Levels, Pay and the Online Alternative
Childcare and early years apprenticeships at Level 2 and 3: pay, length, entry rules, and how an online TQUK Level 3 diploma compares.
Teaching and childcare
What Is an EHCP? The Education, Health and Care Plan Explained
What an EHCP is, who gets one, the 20-week process, what sections A to K mean, and what the plan legally guarantees, explained for parents and school staff.
Teaching and childcare
Behaviour Management Strategies for Teaching Assistants
Practical behaviour management strategies for teaching assistants: low-level disruption, de-escalation, scripts that work and where a TA's role starts and ends.
Teaching and childcare
Level 2 Childcare Qualification: Do You Need One in 2026?
What a Level 2 childcare qualification is, what jobs it leads to, how it counts in EYFS ratios, how long it takes and when you should skip straight to Level 3.
Teaching and childcare
Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship vs Online Course: Which?
Teaching assistant apprenticeship or online Level 3 course? Pay, time, entry requirements, the Level 3 standard and who each route suits in England.
Teaching and childcare
QTLS vs QTS: Which Teaching Status Do You Need? (UK)
QTLS vs QTS explained: who awards each, whether you need a degree, how long each takes and where you can teach in England. Non-graduate route via Level 5.
Teaching and childcare
What Is the EYFS Framework? 2026 Guide for Practitioners
EYFS framework 2026 explained: the 7 areas of learning, early learning goals and ratios, what it means for your setting, and the Level 3 route to qualify.
Teaching and childcare
Nursery Room Leader to Nursery Manager: The Early Years Career Ladder Explained
The early years career ladder runs practitioner → room leader → deputy manager → nursery manager. A full and relevant Level 3 qualification (such as the Early Years Educator) is the gateway to room leader roles and is required by the EYFS statutory framework for managers; most settings then expect supervisory experience for deputy roles and add a Level 5 leadership qualification for managers.
Teaching and childcare
Learning Support Assistant vs Teaching Assistant: what is the difference and which role should you train for?
LSA vs TA explained: what a learning support assistant does, how it differs from a teaching assistant, pay, qualifications and which TQUK course to take.
Teaching and childcare
What is an early years practitioner?
An early years practitioner cares for and educates children from birth to five under the EYFS. The role, Level 2 vs Level 3, pay and how to qualify online.
Teaching and childcare
How to Become a College Lecturer (FE Teacher) in the UK
How to become a college lecturer in UK further education: qualifications, teaching without a degree, QTLS, salary ranges and the Level 5 Diploma route.
Teaching and childcare
DET vs Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE and Skills): what changed and which should you take?
The Level 5 DET is being replaced by the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE and Skills). Compare hours, credits, QTLS and which to choose in 2026.
Teaching and childcare
How to become a childminder in England: the step-by-step route
Every step to become an Ofsted-registered childminder in England: training, paediatric first aid, DBS checks, registration, ratios, start-up grant and pay.
Teaching and childcare
SEN Teaching Assistant: Role, Pay & How to Become One 2026
To become a SEN teaching assistant in the UK, get a Level 2 or Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning qualification (Level 3 is the better fit for SEN roles), build experience with children with special educational needs, for example by volunteering in a school, and apply for SEN TA or learning support assistant posts, which need an enhanced DBS check. Each school sets its own entry requirements, and there is no legal qualification requirement. Lift College teaches the TQUK Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools online with a named UK tutor, from £59.99 a month after a 7-day free trial, with the practice units observed in the school where you work or volunteer. The SEN teaching assistant role explained: what SEN TAs do day to day, typical pay, and the qualifications and experience that make schools hire you.
Teaching and childcare
CAVA Qualification Explained: How to Become a Vocational Assessor
What the Level 3 CAVA qualification covers: the three units, entry requirements, assessor salaries and how it turns occupational experience into an assessing career.
Teaching and childcare
HLTA salary in the UK: what you can expect to earn in 2026
HLTA salaries in the UK follow the NJC Green Book support-staff pay scale (Local Government Association, 2025). Full-time equivalent posts typically sit in the range of about £30,024 to £32,061 across spine column points 15 to 19 for 2025/26, with an Inner London Weighting of £3,687 or Outer London Weighting of £1,947 where applicable. Advertised figures may be full-time equivalent rather than the amount you receive: always ask for the actual gross annual salary for your contracted hours and paid weeks before comparing jobs.
Teaching and childcare
Early Years Educator Level 3: Requirements, Ratios and Careers
The Level 3 Early Years Educator is the standard professional qualification for working unsupervised with children from birth to five in England. Full-and-relevant EYE staff drive ratio capacity, which is why nurseries recruit and fund them so actively.
Not sure which course fits?
Find the course that fits your next step
Take the course finder quiz, or browse every course. Most courses start with a 7-day free trial.
Browse by topic
GCSEs
Resits, grades, past papers and equivalents for adults.
31 articles
A Levels
Subjects, specifications, revision and results.
21 articles
Teaching and childcare
TA, HLTA, early years and FE teaching routes.
22 articles
Access to HE
Diplomas, UCAS points and routes into university.
17 articles
Functional Skills
Levels, exams, pass marks and who accepts them.
8 articles
Health and social care
Care roles, the 6 Cs, NVQs and diplomas.
20 articles
Management (CMI)
CMI levels, chartered status and team leading.
7 articles
Also useful: Guides and resources · Compare qualifications · UCAS points calculator