Certa Qualification Purpose Statement
Certa Level 1 Diploma in Skills for Further Learning and
Employment (QCF) 600/8672/5
QUALIFICATION OVERVIEW
The Certa Level 1 Diploma in Skills for Further Learning and Employment is a
nationally recognised qualification. It is a qualification that helps learners who need to
overcome both barriers to work and need to re-engage in learning or training. It enables
learners to try out some subjects on a long course which is flexible and can be tailored to
their needs.
What does this qualification cover?
The Level 1 Diploma has 39 Credits so learners will need to study for about 390 hours.
At least 9 credits must be from the Core group and learners can study topics that will help
them plan their learning and prepare for future employment, such as:
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Diversity in society
Improving own spelling
Work experience
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Job seeking skills
Making choices in pursuit of personal goals
Prejudice and discrimination
The other 30 credits can be from units in any of the groups but a maximum of 6 credits only
can be taken from the IT group. This flexibility means that learners can choose topics to reengage their interest in learning and try out a range of vocational areas including:
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travel and tourism
creative industries
engineering
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horticulture
hospitality
carpentry and joinery
Learners can also study English, maths and ICT topics to help with further learning such as:
 improving practical reading, writing and spelling skills
 money management and budgeting
 numeracy skills such as using decimals, percentages and fractions
 spreadsheet, word processing and database skills.
What specific knowledge, skills and competences will the learner develop?
Learners will develop knowledge and skills in planning and managing their learning, as well
as for employment. They will develop knowledge and skills in a range of vocational areas,
depending on their choices. They will also develop the maths, English and ICT skills they
need to support their learning.
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Certa Qualification Purpose Statement
Certa Level 1 Diploma in Skills for Further Learning and
Employment (QCF) 600/8672/5
Who is this qualification for?
The Level 1 Diploma is for learners who need a varied set of knowledge, understanding and
skills to help them progress. Learners who would benefit include those who:
 are ready to re-engage with learning and prepare for work within the same full time
course of study
 are ready for in depth study at Level 1 (GCSE Grades D to G)
 need careful approaches to learning, perhaps because of poor or disrupted
experiences at school, or because they are returning to study after some time away
 may previously have been reluctant learners, who are at risk of dropping out of
education or training
 need more confidence before entering or re-entering the job market
 have been unemployed for a while and need to develop personal skills as well as
some vocational knowledge and skills
 need to explore future career options and try out some vocational areas
 need formal recognition for learning they have done in this country.
Are there any age restrictions?
The Certa Level 1 Diploma is for learners aged 14 years and over.
Do learners need any prior qualifications, attainment or experience?
There are no formal entry requirements.
How are learners assessed?
Tutors assess the Level 1 Diploma by a variety of tasks that learners build into a portfolio of
work as their learning progresses. These will include written tasks as well as some practical
assessments. There are no formal examinations.
All assessments will be in English (or British Sign Language by arrangement with Certa).
Are there different versions of this qualification? If so, why should learners
choose this one?
Learners should choose this Level 1 Diploma in Skills for Further Learning and Employment
if they are ready for study at Level 1 (GCSE Grades D to G) and want to re-engage with
learning and develop some work skills on a full time course (390 learning hours). It is
suitable for learners who want to develop a solid foundation of knowledge and skills.
The Level 1 Certificate (210 hours of learning) may suit learners who need a slightly shorter
course, for example so that they can study other qualifications at the same time.
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Certa Qualification Purpose Statement
Certa Level 1 Diploma in Skills for Further Learning and
Employment (QCF) 600/8672/5
Learners who need a short qualification should consider the Level 1 Award (60 hours of
learning), which may suit those who want to re-engage with learning and ‘top-up’ their work
and job-search skills quite quickly.
The Certa qualifications in Skills for Further Learning and Employment are shown in the
table below. This Level 1 Diploma is shaded to show where it fits in the progression ladder.
There are qualifications at Entry 3 for learners who are not ready for Level 1 (GCSE Grades
D to G)
CERTA QUALIFICATIONS IN SKILLS FOR FURTHER
LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT
Maximum number
LEVEL
SIZE
CREDITS
of learning hours
Award
3
30
Entry 3
Certificate
15
150
Diploma
37
370
Award
6
60
Level 1
Certificate
21
210
Diploma
39
390
The qualifications in Skills for Further Learning and Employment are dual-purpose quals,
designed to enable learners to re-engage and address gaps in their learning, while at the
same time develop some skills that may help them overcome barriers to work.
Learners who wish to focus on overcoming barriers to work should consider the Certa Work
Preparation qualifications. Those who need to focus on building up their knowledge and
skills should consider the Certa Qualifications in Progression.
WHAT COULD THIS QUALIFICATION LEAD TO?
The Certa Level 1 Diploma in Skills for Further Learning and Employment is designed
to re-engage people in learning at Level 1 and for progression to further training in a specific
sector or to employment in jobs in a range of sectors.
Will the qualification lead to employment? If so, in which sector or job role, at
what level?
This qualification is not available in an apprenticeship, and does not lead directly to
employment. However, it will support learners who want to re-engage in learning, develop
personal skills that are useful in work, and develop some vocational skills. This may
increase their chances of gaining employment in the future.
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Certa Qualification Purpose Statement
Certa Level 1 Diploma in Skills for Further Learning and
Employment (QCF) 600/8672/5
Learners may gain employment in jobs such as working in a café or restaurant, jobs in
building or plumbing or gardening, health and social care or customer care roles. They
could go on to train for jobs in a range of vocational areas, such as travel and tourism,
engineering, hospitality, horticulture carpentry and joinery.
Will the qualification support progression to further learning?
The Level 1 Diploma is designed to re-engage people in learning and help overcome
barriers to work. It enables progression to a range of qualifications such as:
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Certa Level 2 Certificate in IT User Skills (ITQ) (16 credits)
Certa Level 2 Certificate in Work Preparation (15 credits)
Certa Level 2 Diploma in Work Preparation (39 credits).
Other possible progression routes include:
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vocational training at Level 2, to support a future job role
vocational training at Level 2, followed by further learning at Level 3 to support a
future career eg as part of an Apprenticeship
vocational training at Level 2 as part of a Traineeship.
The Level 1 Diploma is designed to re-engage people in learning and help overcome
barriers to work. It will enable learners to progress to further learning at Level 2. It may also
prepare learners for progression to a Traineeship, or to further training in a specific sector.
WHO SUPPORTS THIS QUALIFICATION?
A number of Centres support this Level 1 Diploma including those listed below.
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Barnsley College UKPRN 10000536
Doncaster MBC UKPRN 10002008
Leeds City College UKPRN 10024962
The Centres are all based in Yorkshire and Humber, and are part of the Certa local learning
community. The tutors attend regular training and best practice sessions. This enables them
to learn from each other and from Certa, to maintain high standards for the course.
To find out if Certa offers this qualification near where you live, please contact
http://www.certa.org.uk/contact.
To find out more please go to: http://www.certa.org.uk/qualifications_and_units
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