Preparing to Work in Home Based Childcare CACHE Award Level 3 (RQF)

The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Home Based Childcare is specifically designed as preparation for Ofsted registration and is recognised as a relevant qualification for childminders in England. However, meeting Ofsted's full registration requirements involves several additional steps beyond holding a qualification, including a paediatric first aid certificate, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check, completion of a pre-registration briefing, a suitability assessment, and a home environment check. This award equips you with the knowledge to approach each of these stages confidently, but it should be considered the knowledge foundation for registration rather than the sole requirement for it.

NCFE CACHE is one of the UK's leading awarding organisations for care, health, and education qualifications. NCFE is regulated by Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, and CACHE is its specialist brand for childcare and education qualifications. The Preparing to Work in Home Based Childcare Award is regulated by Ofqual and sits on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) at Level 3, giving it the same regulatory standing as other recognised vocational qualifications in the childcare sector.

No – the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Home Based Childcare has no formal entry requirements. It is suitable for complete beginners who are considering a move into home-based childcare, as well as those who have some informal experience of caring for children and want to formalise their knowledge with a nationally recognised qualification. The course begins with foundational concepts and builds progressively across both units, so prior study in childcare is not necessary.

Both units are assessed through written coursework and knowledge-based activities completed online – there are no external examinations, timed tests, or classroom attendance requirements. You submit your work electronically via the Learndirect learning platform, and your assignments are internally marked and verified by qualified assessors. Your tutor provides written feedback on each submission, and you can resubmit work if it does not initially meet the required standard.

Yes – the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Home Based Childcare is relevant to nannying as well as childminding. While nannies working in a private household are not required to register with Ofsted unless they wish to offer Tax-Free Childcare to the families they work for, many families specifically look for nannies who hold a recognised childcare qualification at Level 3 or above. This award demonstrates specialist knowledge of child development, safeguarding, health and safety, and home-based care practice that directly supports effective and confident nannying.

A childminder operates a registered, Ofsted-inspected childcare business from their own home, caring for children from multiple families simultaneously (subject to Ofsted ratio requirements). Childminders are self-employed and must register with Ofsted to operate legally. A nanny typically works in the family's own home, caring for the children of one family at a time, and is employed directly by the family. Nannies are not required to register with Ofsted unless they choose to do so to be included in the Tax-Free Childcare and Childcare Voucher schemes. Both roles require the same high standards of child development knowledge, safeguarding awareness, and professional practice covered in this qualification.

Most learners complete the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Home Based Childcare within 3 to 12 months, depending on how many hours per week they can dedicate to study. The course is fully self-paced, so you can progress as quickly or as slowly as your circumstances allow within the access period. Because the course covers two substantial units – one on childcare knowledge and one on business set-up – learners who are able to study consistently typically find that a target of 6 to 8 hours per week allows them to complete comfortably within 6 months.

To access the UK government's Tax-Free Childcare scheme, childminders must be registered with Ofsted. Holding the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Home Based Childcare supports your Ofsted registration application by demonstrating the relevant underpinning knowledge required of a home-based childcare provider. Nannies who wish to accept Tax-Free Childcare payments must also register with Ofsted on the Voluntary Register, for which they need to meet Ofsted's requirements including a relevant childcare qualification, paediatric first aid, and a DBS check. This qualification supports that process.

Yes – the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Home Based Childcare is designed as a stepping stone into the childcare sector, and many learners use it as preparation for a fuller regulated qualification. The natural progression routes include the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (which confers Early Years Educator status and is the sector-entry qualification required to be counted in ratio in an early years setting), and the CACHE Level 3 Award or Certificate in Childminding Practice for those specifically pursuing Ofsted registration as a childminder. Learndirect offers a range of progression options across the childcare and education sectors.