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TQUK · Level 1✓ On the Ofqual register · 603/3414/9From £19.99 a month
Level 1 Award in Principles of Working in Early Years Settings Online TQUK Level 1 Award in Principles of Working in Early Years Settings (RQF), QAN 603/3414/9
Is there a Level 1 childcare course?
Yes. The TQUK Level 1 Award in Principles of Working in Early Years Settings (603/3414/9) is an Ofqual-regulated Level 1 childcare qualification covering play, how early years settings are run and the roles of staff and volunteers. It is 6 credits and 51 guided learning hours, open from age 16, and assessed by written work with no exams.
4 to 8 weekstypical study time, at your own pace
RQF Level 16 credits, 51 guided learning hours
No examsportfolio marked by your tutor, pass or fail
TQUK certificateregistration and certificate included
7-day free trial. Nothing to pay today, then £29.99 a month from day 8. Cancel before day 8 and pay nothing.
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A Level 1 childcare course that introduces how nurseries, pre-schools and other early years settings care for children from birth to 5 years 11 months, with a focus on the value of play and the roles of staff and volunteers. It suits parents, volunteers and anyone aged 16 or over thinking about a career in childcare. Most learners finish in 4 to 8 weeks, and it is assessed by written work marked by your tutor, with no exams.
Course facts
TQUK Level 1 Award in Principles of Working in Early Years Settings (RQF) (603/3414/9) online with Lift College. Pay today: £19.99 a month or £179.99 in full. Or start with a 7-day free trial, then £29.99 a month or £299.99 in full. 14-day money back.
| Qualification | TQUK Level 1 Award in Principles of Working in Early Years Settings (RQF) |
|---|---|
| Qualification number (QAN) | 603/3414/9 |
| Awarding body | TQUK, Training Qualifications UK |
| Level | RQF Level 1 |
| Credits | 6 credits |
| Guided learning hours | 51 hours |
| Total qualification time | 60 hours |
| Typical study time | 4 to 8 weeks, at your own pace |
| Units | 3 units |
| Assessment | You complete both mandatory units and one optional unit, 6 credits in total. |
| Minimum age | 16 or over |
| Price | Pay today: £19.99 a month or £179.99 in full. Or start with a 7-day free trial, then £29.99 a month or £299.99 in full. 14-day money back. |
Why Lift College
Why study this course with Lift College
A clear first look at early years work
You learn why play matters for babies and young children, how early years settings are organised and kept secure, and either how settings work with their community or how early years teams share roles.
A named UK tutor and AI Study Support
You have a named UK tutor who marks your work and gives written feedback, usually within 5 to 7 working days, plus AI Study Support to help you with questions as you study.
TQUK certificate, 7-day free trial
Your TQUK registration and certificate are included, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre. Start with a 7-day free trial, pay monthly or in full, and you are covered by a 14-day money back guarantee.
Prices compared
How the cost compares
Course fees for the same qualification online, exactly as each provider showed them on its own page when we checked on 28 October 2026.
| Provider | Course fee | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Lift College | £179.99paid in full today, or £19.99 a month. TQUK registration and certificate included | Monthly or in full, no contract. Or a 7-day free trial, then £29.99 a month. 14-day money back |
| learndirect | £77.99Sale price at 40% off the list price. Assessed by written questions, tutor support included. | Pay in full, or a deposit then monthly instalments |
| UK Open College | £219TQUK Level 1 award. | Pay in full; no monthly plan recorded |
Checked on . Prices change, so check each provider's own page before you enrol.
What you'll study
The units you can study
You complete 3 of the 4 units below, 6 credits in total.
1Principles of play for babies and young childrenF/617/1456 · Level 1 · 3 credits · 27 guided hours
Mandatory unit. Why play is central to child development, the types of play for babies and young children from birth to 5 years 11 months, and the role of the adult in providing play.
- Know the importance of play in child development
- Know types of play for babies and young children from birth to 5 years 11 months
- Know the role of the adult in providing play
2Management and organisation of early years environmentsJ/617/1457 · Level 1 · 2 credits · 17 guided hours
Mandatory unit. What is involved in running early years provision, how regulations and legislation affect settings, and how settings help children feel secure.
- Know what is involved in management of early years provision
- Know how early years settings are affected by regulations and legislation
- Understand how early years settings make children feel secure
3Principles of community development in early years settingsL/617/1458 · Level 1 · 1 credits · 7 guided hours
Optional unit. How settings build community links that support children's learning and development, and how volunteers are involved and supported.
- Know how to develop community links which enhance children's learning and development
- Know the role played by community volunteers
- Know how to involve volunteers in early years settings
4Roles and responsibilities in early years settingsR/617/1459 · Level 1 · 1 credits · 7 guided hours
Optional unit. The management structure of an early years setting, the role of the early years team, and how to improve your own practice.
- Know the management structure of an early years setting
- Know the role of an early years team
- Know how to improve own practice in an early years setting
Total: 6 credits · 51 guided learning hours · 60 hours total qualification time
Assessment
How you're assessed
You complete both mandatory units and one optional unit, 6 credits in total. Every unit is assessed by a portfolio of evidence made up of written assignments and workbook questions, internally assessed by your Lift College tutor and externally quality assured by TQUK.
01Learn each unit online
Work through the two mandatory units and your optional unit at your own pace, with short lessons, worked examples, your named UK tutor and AI Study Support on hand.
02Complete your portfolio
For each unit you answer written assignment and workbook questions that cover every assessment criterion, then upload them to your portfolio.
03Tutor marking and feedback
Your tutor marks each submission, usually within 5 to 7 working days, and gives written feedback. Work that does not yet meet a criterion is referred, and you resubmit at no extra cost.
04Quality assured and certificated
Lift College quality assures the marking internally and TQUK quality assures it externally. Once every unit is passed, TQUK issues your certificate.
Graded pass or fail: you pass when every learning outcome and assessment criterion is met. There are no exams and no observations, and you do not need to be working in a setting, although TQUK recommends some access to one, for example as a volunteer. This is a knowledge qualification and does not on its own qualify you for a practitioner role; employers decide what each post needs.
Who it's for
This course is for you if
- You are thinking about a career in childcare and want a short, regulated first step
- You volunteer, or want to volunteer, in a nursery, pre-school, playgroup or children's centre
- You are a parent or carer who wants to understand how early years settings support play and learning
- You are aged 16 or over and want a qualification you can study around school, college, work or family
- You want to build knowledge before moving on to a Level 2 early years or childcare qualification
Careers
Where this can take you
Early years volunteer
TQUK says the award makes learners more eligible for volunteer work in the sector, for example in a nursery, pre-school or playgroup.
Parent helper or playgroup volunteer
The units on play and community volunteers prepare you to help out in a setting your own child attends.
Nursery assistant (after further study)
The award does not lead directly into a job, but it is a foundation for the Level 2 study that nursery assistant roles usually ask for.
Early years educator (longer term)
Practitioner roles usually ask for a Level 3 early years qualification; this award is a first step on that route, and employers decide what each post needs.
TQUK and Ofqual
Your certificate comes from TQUK
The TQUK Level 1 Award in Principles of Working in Early Years Settings (RQF) is regulated by Ofqual and listed on the Ofqual register as 603/3414/9. Training Qualifications UK (TQUK) awards it, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre.
Step 1Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre
TQUK approves the centre, the tutors who assess you and the way the course is delivered before a single learner is registered.
Step 2TQUK checks the marking
An external quality assurer from TQUK samples assessed work from Lift College learners. Your result stands because TQUK has agreed it, not just your tutor.
Step 3TQUK issues and verifies your certificate
Your certificate is printed by TQUK with a unique number. Any employer or university can confirm it is real on TQUK's certificate verification service.
Sources: TQUK qualification specification, 603/3414/9, Version 3.1 · Ofqual register: TQUK Level 1 Award in Principles of Working in Early Years Settings (RQF), 603/3414/9
Next steps
What you can do next
Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce
TQUK names this certificate as a progression route for learners who want to work with children in a setting.
Level 2 Certificate in Introducing Caring for Children and Young People
Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Care and Education (Early Years Educator)TQUK also names this certificate, which builds on what you learn here about caring for children.
Once you have more experience, the Level 3 Early Years Educator diploma is the qualification for practitioner roles in early years settings.
View course →What learners say
What our learners say
The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.
I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.
Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.
Good value and well structured. I appreciated that I could resubmit work without extra cost, really helped me improve.
Customer service was excellent. Any time I had a question it was answered within hours. Highly recommend.
I needed a qualification that actually meant something to employers. Ofqual regulation was the deciding factor, and it delivered.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is the Level 1 Award in Principles of Working in Early Years Settings regulated?
Yes. The TQUK Level 1 Award in Principles of Working in Early Years Settings (RQF) is regulated by Ofqual and sits on the Ofqual register at Level 1, qualification number 603/3414/9. It is 6 credits, 51 guided learning hours and 60 hours total qualification time. Your TQUK certificate is issued by Training Qualifications UK, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre.
How long does it take?
Most learners finish in 4 to 8 weeks. The award is 51 guided learning hours and 60 hours total qualification time, there are no fixed deadlines, and you move on as soon as each unit is marked.
How is it assessed?
By a portfolio of evidence. For each of your three units you answer written assignment and workbook questions, which your Lift College tutor marks against the TQUK assessment criteria. TQUK externally quality assures the marking. The award is graded pass or fail.
Are there any exams?
No. There are no exams, no timed tests and no observations in a setting. Everything is assessed through written work that you complete online in your own time.
What are the entry requirements?
There are no formal entry requirements. You need to be 16 or over, and the course is studied and assessed in English.
What does it cost?
One price covers the whole course: your named UK tutor, marking, AI Study Support, your TQUK registration and your TQUK certificate. You can pay monthly or in full, and the current prices are shown on this page. You can start with a 7-day free trial, and there is a 14-day money back guarantee. Paying today, it is £19.99 a month or £179.99 in full. After the 7-day free trial, it is £29.99 a month or £299.99 in full.
Can my employer pay?
Yes. Your employer can open a free organisation account, enrol you and any colleagues, and pay by card or by invoice. Organisation accounts get ten per cent off every course, and the account shows each learner's progress. An organisation place is £269.99, 10% off the £299.99 price, paid by invoice.
What can I do after this qualification?
TQUK names the Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce and the Level 2 Certificate in Introducing Caring for Children and Young People as progression routes. The award does not lead directly into a job, but it gives you a foundation for further learning and makes you more eligible for volunteer work in early years.
Do I need to work or volunteer in a nursery?
No. You do not need to be working to take this award, and all assessment is written. TQUK recommends some access to an early years setting, such as volunteering, because it helps you relate the units to real practice.
What age range does the course cover?
The units cover babies and young children from birth to 5 years 11 months, which is the early years age range the qualification is built around.
Will a Level 1 childcare course get me a job in a nursery?
On its own, no. TQUK states that the award does not give direct entry into a job role. It is a regulated first step that shows your interest and knowledge, and nurseries usually look for Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications for paid roles. Each employer decides what a post needs.
What is the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 childcare?
Level 1 introduces the principles of working in early years: play, how settings are run and the roles of staff and volunteers. Level 2 childcare qualifications go further into child development, care routines and supporting children in practice, and suit people working or about to work in a setting.
Which optional unit should I choose?
Choose community development if you are interested in how settings work with families and volunteers, or roles and responsibilities if you want to understand how an early years team is managed and how to improve your own practice. Your tutor can help you decide.
Start the Level 1 Award in Principles of Working in Early Years Settings today
£179.99 in full or £19.99 a month when you pay today. TQUK registration and certificate included. 14-day money back on every payment.
Choose how to payTry it free for 7 daysNothing to pay today, then £29.99 a month from day 8
Training a team? Organisation accounts pay by invoice, at £269.99 a learner: 10% off the £299.99 price.
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