What our previous students think...

"Combined with my work placement and supervision of a teacher, I learned so much!"

Julie Nettleford - Liverpool, studied the Teaching Assistant Level 2 course

"I love working with children, it's much more rewarding than my old job which didn't have any promotion prospects and while the money wasn't awful I was fed up of going in every day. Working with children means you must have a lot of energy, it's so much more stimulating than my last job.

When I enrolled on the NCFE Teaching Assistant course I was told that it would help me get the job I dreamed about ... and it has. I completed the course at home in around 8 months. I fitted it around my work and family life and the support I received from my tutor was fantastic. It's great to get help over the phone or by email instead of having to go into a college building every day, that would have been a struggle as I was employed full-time. I'd simply email a question to her, and I'd have a reply for when I got back home from work – problem solved.

If I study another course, I'd definitely study it from home again and Open Study College would be my first call."

"Gave me the knowledge I needed to start my career in care skills."

Mark M Patterson - Cheshire, studied the Introduction to Social Care Level 2 course

"I had a full year to complete my care skills course but that was plenty of time and I'd finished with 4 months to spare. It's been fascinating to tackle the subject and learn about improving my communication skills when dealing with people with varying ability to communicate. It's a career that is much more fulfilling than previous jobs I've had, I really feel like I'm making a vital difference in the lives of the people that I care for."

"I wanted to work from home... so I learned at home as well!"

Lucy - Southampton, studied the Child Care - Learning and Development Level 3 course

"I wanted to become a registered childminder, a job that would mean I could stay at home and look after my two boys, Jamie and Tom. I love playing with my children, everyone says they grow up so fast and I don't want to miss any of it!

I wasn't sure how to become a childminder, so I called Open Study College and I discussed the options with one of their course advisors. She suggested that I could study a nationally recognised qualification from home by an award body called NCFE. I did a bit of research on the Internet and found that NCFE have been around for ages and their courses are designed to allow people like me to study from home.

So I enrolled on the NCFE EDI Children's Care Learning and Development course and just over a week later my course pack arrived and it told me who my tutor was and contained all of the things I needed to finish the course. Because I was learning from home, I could study as little or as long as I wanted, sometimes I'd feel like having a night off – and that's ok because it's much more flexible than a traditional college course.

There weren't any strict deadlines to meet, I handed the work in when I'd finished it, and if I didn't understand something I would always email my tutor and ask.

I'm delighted as I'm now a registered childminder, I learned all of the skills I needed with my Open Study College course!"

"A complete child care course with a recognised qualification to study at home, great!"

Lindsey - Swansea, studied the Child Care - Learning and Development Level 3 course

"The child care course pack you sent out had everything I needed and I could get started straight away. I'd never studied by home learning before but it's been ideal for me because I get to spend much more time with my kids and I can stay in full-time employment while I complete my course. I am probably around 2/3's of the way through the course, so the end is in sight and I am starting to plan ahead for my own child care business. It's the career that I want, getting the qualification will make me so happy, thank you."

"Very friendly and helpful tutor support all the way through."

Jackie - Kettering, studied the Child Care - Learning and Development Level 3 course

"The staff at Open Study College were very friendly and helpful, they helped me to find the right course, I'm a bit of a novice at this type of stuff so it was good to have everything explained clearly to me, my course arrived and I've started work, really enjoying it"

"I loved the study method, but I was bored by the subject."

Jane P - Birmingham, studied the Introduction to Social Care Level 2 course

"I had a lot of support from my tutor and the course pack was great but unfortunately I probably chose the wrong subject, next time I'll probably order a beauty course instead - that looks like fun.

"A lot of fun, thanks."

John - Glasgow, studied the Freelance Journalism Level 3 course

"Thanks to everyone there, I have just received my certificate so i think i will be coming back for another course"

"I have the job I want thanks to hard work and this course"

Fiona - Cumbria, studied the Teaching Assistant Level 2 course

"I just got my Diploma! I'm so happy to have succeeded with my course!"