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Work based qualifications for the Early years and Childcare sector.

  • Quality training tailored to meet individual needs.
  • Modern Apprenticeships in Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians
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Thinking of a career in Childcare or looking to get qualified?

We can help you find employment and/or provide training. Funded places are available through the Modern Apprenticeship Programme.

Meet the team

Are you an employer?

Let us help you recruit and train staff. Funded training available through the Modern Apprenticeship Programme

We put our apprentices and employers at the centre of what we do

  • We deliver Social Services (Children and Young People) SVQ at levels 3 and 4 to people working with children.
  • We operate in Edinburgh, Fife and Lothians. Funded places are available through the Modern Apprenticeship Programme
  • Our highly qualified and experienced team will inspire you through a programme of group workshops and one to one mentoring.

Equal Opportunities

It is our aim to treat everyone fairly and equally and we welcome diversity among candidates, staff and employers. We fully support candidates who, for whatever reason require additional support with their training and qualification.

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Working in partnership

As an established training provider with many year experience we work in partnership with a growing number of excellent Early years employers across Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians.

Our aim is to provide a personal service where we work closely with employers to meet their settings needs and support apprentices to fulfil their potential and get the most out of their hands on experience and qualification.

We work closely with Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Qualification Authority in the running of the Modern Apprenticeship programme.

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Meet the Team

I joined PA training in 1997 and helped set up the childcare qualification side of PA Training. We still work with many of our original nurseries to this day. I am a qualified lawyer and changed career when I had children. I am responsible for the management of PA Training and am very involved in all aspects of training delivery. I hold both assessor and Internal verifier qualifications.

Amanda Durkie

Owner/Manager

I have worked in the childcare sector since 2006 and completed my practitioners qualification with PA Training in 2007 while working in my local Playgroup. In this role, I went on to compIete SVQ level 4 in Children’s Care Learning and Development and later my BA Childhood Practice award. I joined PA Training as an assessor in 2008 and am involved in training delivery and supporting apprentices to achieve their qualification.

Gillian Harris

Assessor

I have worked with PA Training since May 2019 and became a fully qualified assessor in December 2019. Prior to this I have worked in the Early Years sector since 2011, starting as an apprentice and progressing to a nursery manager. I completed my SVQ 3 (Children’s Care, Learning and Development) with PA Training in 2013 and more recently went on to accomplish my BA Childhood Practice.

Rebecca Riccio

Assessor

As the newest member of the team I joined PA Training as an assessor in April 2022 but worked with Amanda, Gillian and Rebecca in the past in my role as a nursery manager. I studied Elementary Education and English in Poland and moved to Edinburgh in 2008. I completed level 3 and 4 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development and gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Childhood Practice at the University of Glasgow in 2021. I worked as a nursery practitioner, room senior and nursery manager in an Edinburgh based private nursery. I am also a very busy Mum to two boys

Marta Dynowiak

Assessor

I feel as though I have grown in confidence since starting with PA Training. The support I received from everyone was amazing! The one to one meetings were very helpful, don’t be afraid to ask for extra support if you need it!

Gaining my qualification has helped me with my confidence and has allowed me to be able to do my job with ease. The knowledge I’ve learned through PA Training is valuable and I’ve learned new thing’s daily.

Amy

  • Forbes nursery

Apprentice

I’m so glad I got to do my apprenticeship through PA Training. PA training not only helped me gain the knowledge I need to be the best nursery practitioner I can be but also helped me grow in confidence as an individual in my workplace. Knowing that everyone at PA training would always be there to answer any questions helped me push myself to be the best I can be as I knew I always had the best support behind me. During my modern apprenticeship, I always had access to great resources provided by PA training which made completing the work a lot easier to do and I know I always have them to look back on if I ever need to refresh my knowledge.

Amy

  • Pinocchio’s Nursey

Apprentice

We have had the pleasure of working with PA training for a long time now and have always felt supported by Amanda and her team. They have helped select and interview the right candidates to fit our nurseries and helped develop the individuals into successful practitioners. Could not recommend them highly enough.

Anthony Duriez

Director

, Forbes nurseries

  • Edinburgh

Employer

Having worked with PA Training for many years, I have found their level of mentoring and training to be of the highest standard – delivered in a professional, flexible and courteous manner.

I would highly recommend the services of PA training. They are leaders in their field.

Grace Kerr

Director

, Little Monkeys nurseries

  • Edinburgh

Employer

Brighton Nursery has worked with PA Training for several years and we highly recommend Amanda and her professional team of assessors. Our staff give excellent feedback after attending workshops or 1:1 tutorials. One of our staff liked that she could work independently at her own pace while other staff really value being able to access support whenever they need help. Tutors are flexible, supportive and a credit to early years training.

Jenny Allison

Director

, Brighton Nursery

  • Portobello

Employer

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Case Studies

Amy’s story

With the support from PA Training and my setting I was given the right support to go ahead and do my SVQ qualification. I had previously been told by another provider that I wouldn’t succeed on the course.  I have made good relationships with the children and families I also feel like I was supported by a good team within my setting as well as the support I was given by PA Training. The one-to-one support I was given from my assessor was amazing and the extra meetings I was given to get work completed in time was also very helpful. PA training were very flexible and supportive to my support needs. The qualification has giving me to confidence to be where I am now in my job and a valued member of the team.

Daniel’s Story

When I started this job working in a nursery I felt  I’d found the perfect job for me. Although childcare isn’t for everyone, I feel like I’ve found something I love to do. I wake up every day excited to go into work, I’ve made some amazing relationships with children and their families, and I feel like a respected member of a team, which for me personally are all amazing feelings! I also feel that I am a positive male role model for children.

The support I have received from PA Training has been excellent. PA Training have been very flexible and supported my individual learning needs very well. They have always done what’s best for me and the way I learn for example through regular face-to-face meetings with my assessor. I am grateful for the ongoing support. The qualification has helped me to gain more confidence and begin to understand the link between theory and practice.

Get in Touch

If you would like to learn more about what services PA Training provides then please get in touch with us.

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