WEA courses

This 6-hour course, "Get Ready for Functional Maths," is designed to help you build confidence in everyday math skills. You'll learn how to solve practical problems using basic math, like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. We'll cover topics such as working with percentages, fractions, and measurements, all with real-life examples. The course is perfect for those who want to improve their math for work, study, or daily tasks. By the end, you'll feel more prepared to tackle math in real-world situations. This course is suitable for beginners and anyone needing a refresher.

This introductory course is for anyone who wants to develop a basic knowledge of working with children up to the age of 5 in early years’ settings such as nurseries or pre-schools. You will understand the importance of communication and will gain confidence in applying skills and techniques that will engage children in their personal development. You will study activities that can stimulate children's growth and learning development in their early years. You will increase your confidence in caring for children in early years’ settings. To progress on to an accredited Early Years’ Course at the WEA, or other courses.

Do you help out at a school or youth centre? If you volunteer in a setting with children, it’s important to have an understanding of basic paediatric first aid. This paediatric first aid course gives you an introduction to the essential life-saving skills that can make all the difference in an emergency situation. This course is ideal for you if you work informally with children, toddlers, or babies. It is useful in a variety of settings, including sports halls, community hubs, and youth centres. It is also perfect for new parents who want to understand basic first aid to look after their children.

This Multiply Maths for Construction Workers course builds essential numeracy skills tailored for those in or aspiring to join the construction sector. Spanning six 2-hour sessions, this course covers practical applications such as measurement conversions, area and perimeter calculations, and mixing ratios, all within a construction context. By focusing on real-world examples, learners gain confidence using maths to enhance accuracy and efficiency in their work. This course is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

This Multiply Maths for Construction Workers course builds essential numeracy skills tailored for those in or aspiring to join the construction sector. Spanning six 2-hour sessions, this course covers practical applications such as measurement conversions, area and perimeter calculations, and mixing ratios, all within a construction context. By focusing on real-world examples, learners gain confidence using maths to enhance accuracy and efficiency in their work. This course is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

This festive course combines the joys of holiday crafting and cooking to help participants prepare for a memorable Christmas season. Students will learn to create beautiful handmade decorations, gifts, and ornaments, as well as delicious holiday treats and meals. Through hands-on workshops, demonstrations, and interactive activities, participants will develop skills in various crafts and culinary techniques, all centred around the Christmas theme. This course aims to inspire creativity, bring out holiday cheer, and equip students with the skills to make their Christmas celebrations special and personal.

Designed for current and aspiring school support workers, this course focuses on practical maths skills that are directly applicable to the classroom. Over six sessions, learners will explore foundational maths concepts and apply them in real-world scenarios to enhance their ability to assist students. The curriculum covers essential topics, including basic operations, equivalencies between fractions, decimals, percentages, interpreting data, managing schedules, and using measurement skills. Activities such as creating timetables, planning classroom decorations, help participants contextualise maths in a school setting. Each session highlights practical applications, ensuring learners gain skills they can use to improve students' learning experiences in maths. Note: This introductory online course offers a foundation in practical numeracy skills for support workers in schools. It will familiarise learners with essential maths used in classroom support tasks, providing valuable preparation for those considering accredited maths qualifications. It’s also suitable for individuals currently in support roles in schools who want to refresh their foundational maths skills. This course is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

We generally think of a “traditional” Christmas dinner as being “turkey and all the trimmings”, but what are they, why are they traditional, and where do all of them come from, historically and today? Perhaps not surprisingly, some traditions go far further back than others. What do those sprouts have to do with Brussels, and why are they compulsory? My explanations will be based on my interest in historical cookery, but the recipes (available to download after the talk) will be on a purely practical and modern basis.

In this workshop, you will delve into the fundamentals of composition, colour theory, and design with a festive holiday twist. You’ll explore how to use balance, contrast, and harmony to create visually striking, holiday-inspired artwork, perfect for the season. By experimenting with seasonal colour palettes—think warm reds and greens or frosty blues and silvers—you will discover how to evoke a joyful, wintry feel in your designs. Throughguided exercises, you’ll bring classic holiday themes to life, incorporating elements like snowflakes, ornaments, and cozy winter scenes to craft unique and eye-catching pieces suitable for holiday cards or decor.

Build on your communication skills with this ESOL speaking and listening course. This English course for adults is aimed at speakers of other languages. It will help you improve your speaking and listening skills to communicate better in English. Entry 2 ESOL courses are right for you if you have basic speaking and listening skills in English. This course will help you gain confidence to speak about everyday topics and improve your comprehension. There are also reading and writing courses at this level. If you’re helping others access ESOL classes in the UK, you’ve come to the right place.