Short answer: Lift College's Level 3 Early Years Educator course online is the cheapest Ofqual regulated Level 3 childcare course with tutor support of the three compared here: £89.99 a month with nothing to pay for the first 7 days, or £76.49 a month if you start now and keep the 15 per cent saving for as long as you study. Open Study College charges £1,799 up front for the NCFE CACHE version and learndirect lists its NCFE CACHE diploma at £1,595.99, currently promoted at £1,196.99. All three lead to a Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator that the Department for Education lists as full and relevant, so the choice comes down to price, how you pay, placement hours and support.
Which Level 3 childcare course online is right for you?
- You want to start this week and pay monthly with no finance agreement: Lift College. There is no credit check and a 14-day money back guarantee on every payment.
- You want the NCFE CACHE branded certificate and can pay in full or through a finance plan: learndirect or Open Study College.
- You already work in a nursery and need to count at Level 3 as fast as possible: any of the three; the placement requirement is what sets your pace, not the provider.
Price comparison, checked 22 October 2026
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| Provider | Qualification | Awarding body and Ofqual number | Price | Study time | Placement | Tutor support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lift College | Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator) (RQF) | TQUK, 610/3598/1 | £89.99 a month after a 7-day free trial, or £76.49 a month (£780.29 a year) when you start now, 15 per cent off for as long as you study; all fees included | 12 to 18 months | 300 hours in an Ofsted registered setting | Named UK tutor, unlimited support for the length of the course |
| Open Study College | NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) | NCFE CACHE, 610/4164/6 | £1,799 online (£1,849 with printed study pack), currently advertised with £150 off; or three interest-free payments of £600 | About 860 hours, up to 18 months | 300 hours minimum, 350 recommended | 12 months of tutor support |
| learndirect | NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator) | NCFE CACHE, 610/4164/6 | £1,595.99 list price, currently £1,196.99 (25 per cent off); or finance from £75.41 a month | 12 to 18 months | Minimum 350 hours across the age ranges | Tutor support included for the course duration |
Prices are taken from each provider's live course page on 22 October 2026 and will change. Lift College charges while you study and you can pause or stop; the other two providers quote a full course fee, with finance plans that are credit agreements.
What all three courses have in common
Each diploma is an Ofqual regulated Level 3 qualification on the DfE early years qualifications list, so a completed learner can be counted at Level 3 in EYFS staff-to-child ratios and lead a room as an early years educator. Each needs a placement in a registered early years setting following the EYFS, an enhanced DBS check arranged with your setting, and, to count at Level 3, a suitable Level 2 English qualification (GCSE grade 4 or C, or Functional Skills English Level 2). None of them is a free course: the fully funded routes are apprenticeships and some local authority schemes, covered in our guide to childcare apprenticeships.
Where the three courses differ
Awarding body. Lift College's diploma is awarded by TQUK (Training Qualifications UK), an Ofqual regulated awarding organisation, under qualification number 610/3598/1. Open Study College and learndirect sell the NCFE CACHE diploma, 610/4164/6. Employers and the DfE treat both as full and relevant at Level 3; neither carries more weight in a ratio count.
How you pay. Lift College is the only one of the three with a pay-monthly subscription that needs no credit check and no finance agreement: £0 today, nothing charged until day 8, and a 14-day money back guarantee on every payment. learndirect and Open Study College price the course as a single fee of £1,196.99 to £1,849 and offer finance or split payments to spread it.
Placement. Lift College asks for 300 placement hours, Open Study College 300 (350 recommended) and learndirect 350 across the age ranges. If you already work in a nursery, your paid hours count with your employer's agreement.
Tutor support. Lift College includes a named UK tutor for the whole course. Open Study College includes 12 months of tutor support on a course that can take 18 months; learndirect includes support for the duration.
How to check a Level 3 childcare course before you enrol
- Find the qualification number on the course page and check it on the DfE early years qualifications list. Lift College's is 610/3598/1; the NCFE CACHE diploma is 610/4164/6. Our early years qualification checker walks through the steps.
- Confirm the placement hours and whether your current job counts.
- Confirm the English requirement. If you do not yet have GCSE English at grade 4 or Functional Skills English Level 2, Lift College's Functional Skills courses run alongside the diploma.
- Compare the total you will actually pay, including finance interest, against a monthly subscription you can stop.
Why Lift College for the Level 3 Early Years Educator
Lift College's Level 3 Early Years Educator course online is built for people already working or volunteering in a nursery who want to qualify without a loan: it is Ofqual regulated through TQUK, costs £89.99 a month (or £76.49 a month when you start now), starts with a 7-day free trial, and gives you a named UK tutor from day one. You can enrol from age 14 upwards and study at your own pace within the 12 to 18 month window. See how the qualification levels fit together in our early years qualification levels guide and what the course unlocks on the childcare courses hub.
Your next step
Start the Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator) (RQF) course free for 7 days
Training Qualifications UK, Ofqual regulated · From £89.99/month · £0 today. Nothing is charged until day 8.