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PET offers over 130 distance learning courses in every prison in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

We offer courses in a range of sectors – from health and social care to transport and logistics – as well as GCSEs, A-levels and Open University Access modules. Here you’ll find information about every course we offer.

Finance | Open Study College | AAT | Level 2 | Duration: 340 hours

AAT Certificate in Accounting

By gaining this Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) certification, you will demonstrate you have the practical, real-world accounting knowledge sought by employers, not just in the UK but also internationally. The course will provide you with a solid foundation for working in finance by introducing you to a wide range of accountancy principles, techniques and skills, including bookkeeping transactions and controls, and understanding cost recording systems.

1. Introduction to Bookkeeping
2. Principles of Bookkeeping Controls
3. Principles of Costing
4. The Business Environment

PET entry requirements: Level 2 English and Maths

Format of course material: Paper-based

Assignments: Nine assignments

Exam: Three exams which can only be taken upon release or ROTL at an external AAT exam centre.

Prison support requirements: Support assessment submission and contact supplier for tutor support.

Tutor support: Tutors give support by providing feedback answering queries.

Business, Management and I.T. | CUPE International | APMG | Level 3 | Duration: 40 hours

ABC Scrum Master

Scrum is another popular framework to manage product development. This is a useful qualification if you are looking for a job in management or IT, but you will learn all aspects of this flexible strategy that challenges assumptions of the traditional approach to product development, and enables teams to better communicate and support each other.

The course covers the following subjects:

  • The Manifesto and the Principles
  • Empirical Product Development
  • Scrum Events
  • Scrum Roles
  • Scrum Teams
  • Scrum Artefacts
  • Scrum exercises
  • Scrum Tailoring Agile Business Consortium Scrum Master

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English

Format of Course Materials: Paper-based

Assignments: None

Exams: One exam

Prison Support Requirements: Organize and invigilate exam

Tutor Support: Yes

Find Out More: From CUPE here

Fitness | HFE | REPs | Level 3 | Duration: 40 hours

Adapting Exercise for Ante Natal and Post Natal Clients

This course gives you the knowledge and skills to safely help pre and postnatal women to explore the benefits of fitness – a part of our population often underserved in the industry. You will learn about the conditions associated with pregnancy, health and safety considerations, nutrition, and anatomical and physiological changes. Using this knowledge, you will then plan a pre and postnatal exercise class.

The course consists of five units:

  1. Understanding physical conditions associated with pregnancy
  2. Critical health and safety considerations
  3. Nutrition and pregnancy
  4. Planning pre- and post-natal exercise
  5. Anatomical and physiological changes during pregnancy

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus an accredited Level 2 sport or fitness qualification

Format of Course Materials: Paper-based

Assignments: Two assignments – a worksheet, and a case study

Exams: One multiple choice exam

Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and invigilate exam.

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next? HFE offer a range of similar Level 3 theory courses including Nutrition for Physical Activity. 

Find Out More: via HFE’s website here

Fitness | HFE | REPs | Level 3 | Duration: 40 hours

Adapting Exercise for Independently Active, Older People

This course explores how fitness professionals can make a real difference to clients' lives by understanding the ageing process and prescribing safe and effective exercise. You will learn about bodily changes for people aged 65 and over (including muscular, skeletal, nervous and cardiorespiratory changes) and find out recommendations for physical activity. Using this knowledge, you will analyse the effects changes have on the body and plan an exercise session for older adults. You will also learn how to adapt certain exercises for older clients.

The course covers the following topics:

  • Chief Medical Officer recommendations for 65+ years of physical activity
  • Understanding changes to the muscular, skeletal, nervous and cardio-respiratory systems
  • Analysing the effects that changes to those systems have on the body
  • How to plan an exercise session for older clients
  • Safely adapting various exercises for older clients

Entry requirements: Level 2 English, plus a Level 2 fitness qualification

Format of Course Materials: Paper-based

Assignments: A worksheet, and a case study

Exams: One multiple choice exam

Prison support requirements:  Support completion and submission of assignments. Facilitate and invigilate exam.

Tutor support: Yes

What’s next: HFE offer a range of similar Level 3 theory courses including Nutrition for Physical Activity. 

Find out more: On HFE’s website here

Business, Management and I.T. | CUPE International | APMG | Level 3 | Duration: 70 hours

Agile Project Management

Agile PM is a project management method which takes a different approach to the more traditional PRINCE2, and has become more popular in some sectors in recent years due to its flexibility. This course will allow you to learn this practical approach that achieves an ideal balance between the standards, rigour and visibility required for good project management, and the fast-pace, change and empowerment provided by Agile.

The course covers the following subject areas:

  • The Fundamentals and the Philosophy
  • The Principles
  • Preparation
  • The Lifecycle and Products
  • Team structures
  • Roles and Responsibilities
  • Communication
  • MoSCoW and Timeboxing
  • Lifecycle Configuration
  • Estimation and Measurement
  • Quality and Maintainability
  • Planning, Control and Risk
  • Tailoring Agile Project Management

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English

Format of Course Materials: Paper-based

Assignments: None

Exams: One exam

Prison Support Requirements: Organize and invigilate exam

Tutor Support: Yes

Find Out More: via CUPE here

Health and Safety, Environment and Construction | CUPE International | Association for Project Management (APM) | Level 3 | Duration: 50 hours

APM Project Fundamentals

APM project management qualifications are regarded by the industry as the best for construction and engineering. This qualification covers a wide range of management topics. You will develop your knowledge of management structures, project management planning, scheduling and resource management, risk management, communication, leadership and teamwork.

The course has 18 modules that cover the following 10 areas:

1. Project Management and the Operating Environment
2. Project Life Cycle
3. Management Structures by which Projects Operate
4. Project Management Planning
5. Scope Management
6. Scheduling and Resource Management
7. Risk Management and Issue Management
8.Project Quality Management
9. Communication
10. Leadership and Teamwork

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English

Format of Course Materials: Paper-based

Assignments: None

Exams: One multiple choice exam

Prison Support Requirements: Organize and invigilate exam

Tutor Support: Yes

Find Out More: You can read more about the course provider, Cupe International, here

Health and Safety, Environment and Construction | CUPE International | APMG | Level 3 | Duration: 50 hours

APM Risk Management

This course is the next step on from APM Project Fundamentals. Relevant to both the construction and engineering sectors, you’ll develop your knowledge of risk management when planning or monitoring progress on any project. This qualification works well as a follow on from our PRINCE2, Agile or Scrum courses, as you’ll be learning to manage risks for any method or approach.

This is an introductory course roughly equivalent to RQF Level 3.

The course covers the following subjects:

  • General Definitions
  • Benefits
  • Principles
  • Process/Initiate/Identify/Assess/Plan Responses
  • Organisation & Control
  • Behaviour
  • Application
  • Risk identification techniques/ Qualitative risk assessment/ Quantitative risk assessment/ Risk response

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus a previous qualification in project management

Format of Course Materials: Paper-based

Assignments: None

Exams: One exam

Prison Support Requirements: Organize and invigilate exam

Tutor Support: Yes

Find Out More: From CUPE here

Painting of person with map on face

Open University Access modules | Open University | Open University Regulatory Bodies | Level 3 | Duration: 270 Hours

Arts and Languages Access Module (Y031)

The idea of university-level study can be quite daunting if you have not studied at this level before. For this reason, the OU offers introductory Access modules that have been specially designed to help you find out what it’s like to study with the OU, get a taste of a subject area, develop your study skills, and build your confidence. Starting an Access module with PET is the perfect opportunity to try out degree-level study without taking out a student loan. Research has also shown that learners who take Access modules are significantly more likely to succeed in their university studies than those who don’t.

In this module, you will explore a range of subjects in this module – including art history, English language, English literature and creative writing. The module touches on modern languages, history, religious studies,
classical studies and music too. It will help you to explore your creative side and hone your study skills.

There are three main blocks:

  1. Finding your voice (English literature and language)
  2. Speaking out (Language use in popular culture)
  3. Visions of Protest (Art in protest)

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English

Format of Course Materials: Paper-based

Assignments: Four written assignments plus a few smaller assessed pieces of work

Exams: None

Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Register and reserve learner on the course before the start date (February, May and October each year)

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s next? Full Undergraduate Degree (funded via a student loan)

Find out more: from the OU directly here

Health and Social Care | Open Study College | CACHE | Level 3 | Duration: 240 hours

Award in Health and Social Care

Whether you wish to find work in a health and social care setting or you are looking to go onto higher education, this course leads to a widely-recognised qualification that can help you to achieve your goals. Entirely theory-based, with this course you will expand your knowledge of the key subject areas of health and social care.

The course has three units:

  1. Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Safeguarding and Protection in Health and Social Care

The level 3 Award is more in-depth and covers a larger amount of information than the Level 2 Certificate. The questions given for the written assignments will be more in-depth as well, and you having to show more understanding in your answers.

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English

Format of Course Materials: Paper-based

Assignments: Three written assignments

Exams: None

Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments.

Tutor Support: Yes

Find Out More: From the OSC here

 

Health and Social Care | Open Study College | CACHE | Level 3 | Duration: 110 hours

Award in Supporting Individuals with Learning Disabilities

This course will provide you excellent knowledge in how to support individuals with learning disabilities. You will develop skills in key areas, including adolescent and young adult issues, self-directed support, development of sexuality and maturity into adulthood.

The course consists of 4 units:

  1. Understand the context of supporting individuals with learning difficulties
  2. Principles of self-directed support
  3. Principles of supporting individuals with a learning disability regarding sexuality and sexual health
  4. Principles of supporting young people with a learning disability to make the transition into adulthood

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus previous experience or a level 2 qualification in a relevant subject area (e.g. counselling, social care, etc.).

Format of Course Materials: Paper-based

Assignments: A series of written assignments

Exams: None

Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments

Tutor Support: Yes

Find Out More: You can read about from course provider here

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