Distance Learning
Our distance, or home-based, learning packages have been created to meet the needs of those who are unable to come to the Centre but have the commitment to work through the course with tutor support at a pace of your choice that fits with your personal commitments.
We have taken a lot of time and care to the planning of our distance learning courses making them just as easy and straight forward and flexible as they would be if you were coming into to the training centre.
Some students have lots of time available and want to complete the course in a very short time whilst others are happy to do a few hours a week.
You will take a FREE skills assessment and discuss with us the course that will best suit your needs and agree the timescale in which you want to complete the course. Again we can tailor the course to suit your existing level of skills.
We offer our distance learning students a range of support strategies through our professional tutors. Our aim is for you to gain a good level of knowledge and skills that will help you in your career and to successfully achieve the chosen qualification.
This includes the option of booking a training session at our Centre under our usual flexible access conditions if you are in need of additional support on any topic.
You must have access to a PC with Microsoft Office installed – the version should be XP, 2003 or 2007. We will need to know which version you are using to ensure compatibility.
- If you live near the centre then we ask you to call in to discuss your requirements and take a FREE skills assessment.
Or
If you live or work further away then we do this on the telephone and e-mail you the skills assessment.
- We will discuss the course that suits your needs and make suggestions and recommendations. Some of the exams are available on demand, but some are timetabled and only available at specific dates throughout the year. You will be informed of any schedule so that you can plan your training timetable. The timetable agreed is outlined in a simple agreement so that we are both clear regarding your preferred timetable.
- You receive a workbook explaining the skills as well as a CD rom with the files for the exercises set in the workbook. You e-mail your completed work back to the tutor as you complete each section for feedback.
- As you work through the exercises at your own pace you can send your completed work back to your personal tutor for marking and feedback.
- In addition you can always email your queries or call the Resource Centre during normal office hours to speak to a tutor or if you live nearby book a special training session.
- Feedback is usually given by email and we like to respond to our students within a 48 hour period. It is unusual for feedback and marking to take longer than this, although there are exceptional circumstances such as holidays and illness or exceptionally heavy workloads.
- When you have completed the workbook and exercises you will have some sample assessments which will help you to get used to the format of the final paper.
This is important preparation for the exam itself. We will mark your work and provide you with constructive comments. - The training centre is situated in Horsham in West Sussex. . We encourage all our students to sit their exams here at the centre, and are able to provide evening and Saturday exam sessions if this is more convenient. However if it is impractical for you to get here we will help you to find a centre closer to you. This will affect the cost of the assessment.
- We will discuss this with you at your induction telephone interview.
