The Open College is approved to provide Pobal Funded Training for those who wish to complete the Level 5 and Level 6 Major Awards in Early Childhood Care & Education.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs recently announced a 4th round of the Learner Fund. This fund is now open for applications and will remain open until 28th October 2016.  All Childcare staff  in Early Childcare centres in Ireland, are required to have at least a Level 5 approved qualification in Childcare and all Pre-school (ECCE) Room Leaders are required to hold a Level 6 approved qualification in Childcare.

2016 will see an expansion of the ECCE programme which will be made available to a wider age-range of preschoolers. This will result in additional demand for ECCE places, and many early years services will be planning to expand as a result.

The Open College, Ireland’s largest QQI course provider offers the approved QQI component and Major Award at Levels 5 and 6 which are suitable for both Early Childcare staff and Room Leaders/Supervisors.

Find out more about The Open College’s range of Childcare courses.

Click here for more information on POBAL Funding.

We are delighted to announce the launch of another new QQI level 5 course – Sports & Recreation Studies – 5N2667.

The aim of this course is to provide the learner with the necessary practical and theoretical knowledge of Sports and Recreation in Ireland.  The learner will acquire  an understanding of how different sporting organisations work successfully.

Similarly, the learner will acquire an understanding of how these organisations are interrelated with healthy living and active sports participation in Ireland. Thus the gamut of how Sports and Recreation impacts on Government policy, Tourism, individual sports participation and amenity provision strategies will be covered. The course will explore the history and growth of Sports and Recreation, how it has developed over time and how it is now an integrated part of Irish society. It will delve into……….

Click here to find our more………

We are delighted to announce the launch of two new courses: QQI Level 5 Exercise & Fitness (5N2668) and a brand new attendance course to complement our QQI Psychology courses – Positive Psychology and Self-Hypnosis.

QQI level 5 Exercise & Fitness 5N2668

The aim of the newly validated module is to teach knowledge and understanding in the field of Exercise and Fitness. The learner will be introduced to the principal theories of planning and evaluating exercise programmes. They will then be expected to apply these theories in a practical fitness instruction context.

This will be enabled when the learner has a detailed understanding of human physiology and how the body works during exercise…….. To find out more please click here..

Positive Psychology and Self-Hypnosis: Understanding and Evoking Your Human Strengths

Everywhere you look, there are courses on ‘mindfulness’ springing up, many of which promise to make you happier. However, there is a field of psychology that is devoted to the positive aspects of human life and the evidence-based means to evoke these strengths: this is the field of Positive Psychology.

In the current rush to incorporate mindfulness practices from the East, many practitioners and researchers have neglected a tool that is, in many ways, even more powerful: clinical hypnosis! While no one has undergone a major operation, such as an open-heart operation or amputation, using only mindfulness, individuals have been able to achieve this with hypnosis and self-hypnosis….. Find out More….

Pobal Funding, on behalf of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, will reopen again for applications for 2 weeks from 6th Nov-14. Applications will be open for a limited period only: from 6th November –
20th November 2014.

The Learner Fund 2014-2015 by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) will provide funding in the form of a training subsidy to assist existing staff working directly with children in registered early years services to attain the mandatory minimum qualification requirements for September 2015.

The Open College has been approved to provide Pobal Funding training for those who wish to complete the Level 5 and Level 6 Major Awards in Early Childhood Care & Education.

We offer the approved QQI component and Major Award at Levels 5 and 6 which are suitable for both Early Childcare staff and Room Leaders/Supervisors.

Click here below to find out more about The Open College’s range of Childcare courses.

Learners should see the Pobal website for information on how to apply for the training subsidy.

The Open College are delighted to announce the launch of the first of four new QQI Montessori modules – Early Childhood Literacy & Numeracy (Montessori Maths & Language) – 6N1935.

The purpose of this newly validated distance learning QQI Early Childhood Literacy & Numeracy (Montessori Maths & Language) award is to equip the learner with the necessary skills and competence to ensure that each child develops a competent level of literacy and numeracy skills as developed through the montessori method of teaching.

Each student will gain a full understanding of the montessori method of teaching language and mathematics. Students will be introduced to the montessori materials used in language and mathematics and the presentation of these materials to the child.

Students will learn how the Language and Mathematic exercises can be implemented into everyday life and within the montessori and childcare field and will recognise the importance of the language and mathematics exercises and how to develop extensions of the exercises so that exercises can be individually catered for each child depending on their abilities and developmental stage.

Click here to find out more…….

Our new March Special offers have just been announced. They Include:

Online Offers:

– Healthcare and Childcare Level 5 & 6 Major Awards – Only €900:

– All FETAC Component Awards – €200 off: (distance learning courses)

• For the month of March most courses now have €200 off. All course Fees now show reduced rates and online bookings will reflect the special offer prices.

Bundles / Easy Payment Deals (Enrol by Phone):

– Bundles:

• Buy any 2 FETAC distance learning component awards and pay NO registration fees saving you €170.

– Major Awards – Easy Payment Deals:

All FETAC Major Award Programmes now only €125 per month over 10 months!

For more information on these unbeatable offers please click here….

New 2014 Classes announced for our Healthcare Support Level 5 Major Award – 5M4339.


Part-Time attendance Classes will commence on March 24th in Dublin and Cork. Options Include:


Option 1:

• 2 nights per week: 6.30 – 9.30pm (Tuesday & Thursday) and
• One full Saturday per month – 10.00 – 17.00.

or

Option 2:

• One full day (09.30 – 17.00) per week every Tuesday for 45 Weeks commencing March 24th.

Click here for more details and ensure to book your place early as only 15 places are available on each programme.

We are pleased to announce new Jan & Feb dates for the below FETAC/QQI Attendance Courses. Please click on the below course link for more details or call us 01 2061828.

Train the Trainer – Dublin – FETAC Level 6

Train the Trainer – Cork – FETAC Level 6

Digital Marketing – Dublin – FETAC Level 5

Early Childhood Care & Education – FETAC Level 5 Major Award – Dublin & Cork.

Book Early to secure your place and avoid disappointment.