Expand+The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vo...

Hide-The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vocational Education Committees and provides a special range of courses designed to meet the education and training needs of unemployed people.

The aims of the scheme are:
- to give unemployed people education and training opportunities which will develop their employability

- to prepare people to go into paid employment or on to further opportunities leading to paid employment

Expand+Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Science.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for ...

Hide-Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Science.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for credits for at least 6 months*.

Also, the course must be provided or approved by the local VEC for the purposes of the VTOS scheme.

A limited number of places are available to persons in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Deserted Wife's Benefit/Allowance, Widow's/Widower's Contributory/Non Contributory Pension and Prisoner's Wife's Allowance and to qualified spouses/partners of persons eligible to participate in VTOS.

Periods spent on VTOS, FS training schemes, Community Employment, Job Initiative, Youthreach or time in prison can count towards the 6 month qualifying period.

Expand+Learners will complete at least eight modules at level 5 to gain this award. Learners will also have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in a crèche environment and students must source this work experience themselves. Students will also...

Hide-Learners will complete at least eight modules at level 5 to gain this award. Learners will also have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in a crèche environment and students must source this work experience themselves. Students will also be Garda vetted. The overall aim of the programme is to provide the learner with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skill and competence to work independently and under supervision in a range of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) settings and or to progress to higher education and training