In my last article, “We Were Flooded with Responses – It’s Time to Act”, I said that we needed a solution, and that we were working on one.
Well, here it is.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve heard from dozens of nursery owners, managers, and learners who all told us the same thing:
“I thought my qualification was valid, but it doesn’t count.”
“We hired someone assuming they were qualified, but now we can’t use them in ratio.”
“I invested time and money, passed my course… and still can’t do the job I trained for.”
It’s a painful, frustrating, and deeply unfair situation, made worse by the fact that many were misled by training providers who either misunderstood or ignored the EYFS “full and relevant” criteria.
And while we didn’t cause this issue, we are committed to fixing it.
Introducing: The Swift Payback Programme
The Swift Payback Programme is our support initiative for learners and employers who’ve been caught out by the qualification confusion.
If you completed a course in the past four years that you were told was “full and relevant”, and it turns out it isn’t, we’ll help you requalify without paying twice.
Through this programme, eligible learners (or their employers) can access up to £1,500 credit towards the cost of our fully accredited Level 3 Early Years Educator Diploma, a qualification that genuinely counts.
Who Can Apply?
Learners who:
- Achieved a non-full-and-relevant qualification within the last four years
- Were led to believe it met EYFS standards
- Can provide proof of purchase from the original provider
- Understand that this does not apply to CPD or short courses
Learners can start their claim HERE
Independent Nursery Owners (Under 10 Sites) who:
- Employ staff affected by invalid qualifications
- Have the employee’s permission to submit a claim
- Can provide valid documentation
- Are submitting no more than the allowed maximum number of claims per setting
Nursery Owners can start their claim HERE
Multi-site (10+ sites) or national nursery groups must contact our Business Development Team directly to discuss tailored solutions.
Why Are We Doing This?
Because it’s the right thing to do.
We’re hearing from real people whose careers have stalled and whose settings are left non-compliant, not through their own fault, but due to misinformation or poor-quality guidance from providers who didn’t do their homework.
At Swift Childcare, we’ve never been part of the problem. Every course we offer is fully mapped to EYFS, meets the DfE’s full and relevant criteria, and is designed exclusively for the early years sector.
But we know the damage is done, and we’re stepping up to help put it right.
How the Payback Programme Works
- Learners or nursery owners submit a claim
- Provide a valid invoice or proof of payment for the original (invalid) qualification
- Upon approval, receive up to £1,500 credit against our Level 3 Early Years Educator Diploma
- No cash refunds – credit only toward our correct, full and relevant course
- Places are limited and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis
Read the full Terms & Conditions for full eligibility and claim rules.
Why Swift?
Because early years is all we do.
Every course we deliver is:
- Full and relevant, guaranteed
- Delivered by experienced early years experts who work, or have worked, in nursery settings
- Packed with additional value and support to match your setting’s specific needs
Learn more about our Level 3 Early Years Educator Diploma at our Website
Ready to Get Started?
If you’ve been affected or are trying to support a team member who has, don’t let the wrong qualification hold you back any longer.
NURSERY OWNERS – BEGIN YOUR CLAIM
The initial deadline for applications is 30th November 2025, though this may be extended depending on demand. We’ll do everything we can to get eligible learners onto the next available cohort.
Final Word
This isn’t just about one learner, one nursery, or one course.
It’s about a whole sector that deserves better.
It’s about righting wrongs and rebuilding trust.
So, if you’ve been left out by the system, we’re here to pull you back in.
Because everyone deserves a qualification that counts.
Let’s fix this together.
Jack Edwards
Operations Director
Swift Childcare
