Free Level 1 Childcare Course in Manchester – Harpurhey Campus

CostFREE
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 1
DeliveryClassroom based
Start7 Sep 2026
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyNCFE awarding body

About this course

Free Level 1 Childcare Course in Manchester. Classes run at Harpurhey Campus, full-time during the day. The course runs for one year and covers child development, safeguarding, health and safety, and how play supports early learning. You'll build the knowledge needed to work with young children, without needing a work placement in place before you start. Assessment is tutor-led, using coursework, charts, leaflets, and oral questioning. A level 1 childcare qualification opens the door to further study and entry-level roles in childcare and early years.

Who this course is for

As an introduction into caring for children, this Level 1 diploma is ideal for anyone considering a future career in this area. You’ll develop an underpinning knowledge of the skills needed to care for young children effectively and lay the foundations for further study and a rewarding job in childcare.

You’ll focus on practical health and safety aspects when working with children and learn the importance of safeguarding young people’s welfare. You’ll also being to understand how children grow and develop as they get older, looking at how to respect and value their actions.

Although you don’t need to be working or be on a practical placement - as this course is just focused on developing your knowledge - you’ll still be exploring a variety of craft activities for children and understanding how play can be focused on early learning. Healthy living will also be touched upon and you’ll discover how to effectively share learning experiences with young people.

What you will learn

  • You'll learn how to keep children safe, covering health and safety in childcare settings.
  • You'll understand safeguarding and why protecting children's welfare matters.
  • You'll explore how children grow and develop at different ages.
  • You'll discover how to respect and value children's actions and choices.
  • You'll look at craft and play activities and how they support early learning.
  • You'll learn about healthy living and how it relates to children's wellbeing.
  • You'll understand how to share learning experiences with young people effectively.

How you will learn

Each unit is assessed by your tutor using a range of methods. These include written coursework, designing charts and leaflets, and oral questioning. Learning takes place in the classroom at Harpurhey Campus. You do not need to be in a work placement to complete this course, though work experience is part of the programme and the centre will support you in finding a relevant placement.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. Harpurhey Campus will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Nursery assistant: supporting children's play and daily routines
  • Childcare worker: caring for young children in a nursery or creche
  • Youth support worker: working with young people in community settings
  • Playworker: leading play activities for children in after-school clubs
  • Early years helper: assisting qualified staff in early years settings
  • Classroom teaching assistant: supporting children in primary school settings

What you could study next

Completing this Course puts you in a strong position to move on to Level 2 study in childcare or early years. A Level 2 Diploma in Early Years Practitioner builds on the foundations here and is a recognised step toward working in a nursery or early years setting. From there, a Level 3 Early Years Educator Diploma is the qualification required for senior roles counted in statutory nursery staffing ratios.

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