Bookkeeping - AAT Level 1 Award

With the other learners in your class, you will gain the necessary skills to carry out a range of basic day to day manual and computerised bookkeeping routines and activities.

This is an accredited course designed to provide you with the underpinning knowledge and skills to take the next steps into a Level 2 qualification. You will undertake an assessment in manual bookkeeping and gain a Level 1 Award but also study the principles of computerised bookkeeping throughout your course.  

Good bookkeeping is essential business maintenance.  In short, a bookkeeper keeps track of monies coming into and out of the business.  By maintaining accurate financial records, bookkeepers help small, medium and micro businesses:

• Prepare for year-end tax and VAT returns


• Keep on top of day-to-day cash flow


• Efficiently run their finances.

Please note that skills for year-end tax & VAT returns are not covered in this course. Traditionally, bookkeepers kept paper records of business transactions. Today, a bookkeeper's tasks are diverse and highly sophisticated, requiring skilled knowledge. The introduction pathway is pitched at level 1 and is made up of 5 themes:

• Introduction to Bookkeeping


• Keep double entry records and prepare a trial balance


• Prepare reconciliations


• Introduction to computerised accounting


• Set up a computerised accounting system and process data

With regular attendance and home study, by the end of this course you will;

• Understand the basics of double entry bookkeeping


• Understand bookkeeping terms


• Recognise source documents and understand their purpose


• Understand the basics of VAT


• Understand the purpose of the trial balance and petty cash and bank reconciliations


• Use the journal


• Record transactions in a double entry bookkeeping system


• Prepare a trial balance


• Reconcile the petty cash balance


• Prepare a bank reconciliation statement


• Understand the basics of computerised accounting


• Understand accounting terms


• Set up a computerised accounting system


• Process transactions, sales, receipts and payments


• Reconcile the balance on the bank current account


• Generate reports

This course provides an introduction to the skills and underpinning knowledge of financial record keeping, giving you the necessary skills to record financial transactions in a double entry, manual, bookkeeping system, using commercially available computerised accounting software. You will develop the necessary skills to assess your own competence in carrying out a range of basic day-to-day computerised bookkeeping routines and activities. You will develop the necessary underpinning knowledge and skills to assess your understanding of the importance of maintaining accuracy, security and integrity, in performing any bookkeeping tasks.

A variety of learning activities will be used on this course, including tutor presentation and demonstration, practical application of skills, individual and group work, discussions, Q&A, internet research, individual research and project work. Where relevant, your learning will enable you to develop skills and knowledge required for work. There may be vocational specialist guest speakers, or employers, invited to share their skills and experience.

Regular home study will be necessary to successfully complete this course. You will be supported to develop good study skills. Your tutor will also support you to improve your English and maths skills alongside your learning of your vocational subject. This will include assessing your current skills and planning learning activities related to your subject that are designed to develop your skills in these areas. To support this, you may undertake some e-learning modules, where appropriate, as homework.

If you have declared at enrolment that you are unemployed, you may be invited to meet with an Information, Advice and Guidance Officer or employability member of staff, to identify other learning opportunities that will support you to secure employment or improve your employment prospects. We highly recommend that you engage fully in any other learning opportunities that we help you identify.

This is a vocational course providing you with a pathway into Level 2 qualifications, and the cost of it is subsidised by public funding. You will be required to complete all the necessary coursework/assignments by the given deadlines.

Please note if you do not successfully complete the course within this academic year, you will not be able to repeat it at the subsidised fee.

You will take a Level 1 qualification at the end of this course in manual bookkeeping. Your tutor will provide full information about this during the induction.  

An Application process is applicable to this course. English language skills at Level 1 are required. You will be asked to complete an online assessment in English after submitting a course application.

Please note - places on some of our courses will be in high demand and if you have been offered a place but no longer require it, please advise us immediately, as you may be preventing another learner from taking the place. Where learners do not attend the first session, without having given prior notice, Skills & Learning reserve the right to offer the place on the course to another learner (see Additional Information below).

For term dates please refer to www.skillsandlearningace.com/about/term-dates.

This is an AAT accredited introductory course at Level 1 and is designed to prepare you for progression to Level 2 qualifications.  

Your tutor will work with you to develop and review your progress throughout the course. 

You will negotiate a Personal Learning Plan with your tutor identifying the areas you need to develop; this will be reviewed at regular intervals. Please note this qualification must be completed within the deadline set.

This is a formal assessment to achieve the AAT Level 1 Award in Bookkeeping. There is a computer based assessment at the end of the course. Once completed, your work will be marked and verified before you receive your certificate. As soon as your certificate is received by Skills & Learning it will be forwarded to you.  

We have designed this course to support you with working in the bookkeeping and accountancy sector. Successful completion of this course will provide the skills and knowledge required for entry level job roles in bookkeeping. The Introduction Pathway to Bookkeeping is aimed at individuals who wish to begin their studies of bookkeeping and gain skills and knowledge at Level 1 of the National Framework from a point of no previous knowledge. It could also be used by those learners who have some practical knowledge and skills at this level and wish to revise said skills. Owners of small businesses may also find this course useful, as it gives coverage of keeping a single-entry book manual keeping system, suitable for the production of small business accounts and also acts as the underpinning knowledge of bookkeeping for the processing of financial transactions using a computerised accounting system.

This course is a pre-requisite for anyone wanting to progress to the Bookkeeping - Level 2 Pathway.

You can check the suitability of this course for a preferred career path or route to employment by looking at various job profiles on the National Careers Service website https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk Also take a look at the Simple Steps to Becoming a Qualified Professional Bookkeeper https://www.iab.org.uk/bookkeeping-qualifications/how-to-become-a-qualified-accredited-bookkeeper

There is an expectation that if you enrol on this course, you are willing to commit fully to the period of time involved in this course, the associated home study and the assessed work required, and intend to sit the examination if applicable. You should consider your readiness to commit to study and we have a study support toolbox to help you with this:www.skillsandlearningace.com/toolbox/

Essential resources needed to complete your course, are: A course textbook is required which will be available on loan from Skills & Learning for the duration of the course, or you may prefer to purchase your own textbook. You should bring A4 paper, a folder, pens, pencils, ruler and calculator to each session.

You will need access to a PC or laptop to access and complete homework. It will benefit your progress if you have regular and reliable access to the internet. We upload learning material and support documentation onto our Virtual Learning Environment which you will need to refer to frequently throughout your course. If you do not have access to the internet at home, you can use facilities at your local library. There may be further materials you could obtain to further support your study. You will be guided by your tutor prior to any purchase.

Course costs for Entry, Level 1 and Level 2 courses For information regarding any funding for this course please please refer to the Finance page on our website www.skillslearningace.com/learning-with-us/finance/.

. Please note all items loaned to you MUST BE RETURNED at the end of the course. If they are not returned you will be invoiced for the full cost of a replacement.

PLEASE NOTE If you do not attend a pre-booked practical or theory exam without giving the required notice, you will be invoiced for the cost. Details of the fees and cancellation notice periods required are available on request.

You may wish to consider widening your skills in this area by progressing to the Bookkeeping Level 2 Pathway. Other courses may be offered by Skills & Learning or other local providers. There are a range of courses available to help the development of skills for work. There are a variety of e-learning courses that can be started at any time of the year. Up to date English and maths Functional Skills and Essential Digital Skills qualifications can help you progress at work or into further or higher education.

Skills & Learning work with local employers to offer Sector Based Work Academy Programmes and Apprenticeship training. Please visit our website www.skillsandlearningace.com for more details.

Your tutor may also be able to discuss the possible next step options with you. You may like to talk with a Careers Adviser about other courses. General careers advice and guidance can be provided by the National Careers Service https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk For further information please contact us on 01202 123444.

Need support planning your next steps? Our experienced Careers Advisors at Skills & Learning can offer personalised guidance on choosing the right course, exploring career paths, developing interview skills, updating your CV and much more. Book a FREE appointment today and get the support you need to achieve your goals. Visit: https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/learning-with-us/next-steps/. Call us at 01202 123444 for more information.

English, maths and computing skills: all of our courses support the development of relevant English, maths and computing skills.

Refunds: please see details of our cancellation policy in our Terms and Conditions on our website www.skillsandlearningace.com/policies/terms-and-conditions or in our brochure.

Attendance: before enrolling you should ensure that you can attend all classes offered as far as possible.

Places on courses: many of our courses are in high demand. If you have been offered a place but no longer require it, please advise us immediately as you may be preventing another learner from taking the place. Where learners do not attend the first session, without having given prior notice, Skills & Learning reserve the right to offer the place on the course to another learner; you will not be eligible for a refund it it is outside of the terms outlined in our cancellation policy.

Fully funded learners: if you have been offered a fully funded place on a course and no longer require it, you must advise us before the course starts so that your place can be offered to someone else. We reserve the right to withdraw future offers of fully funded places if you regularly do not start or complete funded courses.

Home study: you will be required to do significant study at home between sessions to assist with your learning and progress.

Qualification Levels: there is further information about qualification levels on our website.

Proof of identity: please bring photographic ID and your National Insurance number with you to your first session. You will also need to provide it for any external examinations you take.

Off-site activities: with some courses, there may be the opportunity for off-site enrichment activities at additional cost, for example: gallery, museum or exhibition visits. Where this is an integral part of the course, your tutor will discuss the arrangements with you during your induction.

Parking at centres: parking at centres may be limited; please be prepared to use on street parking or pay and display car parks. For information regarding each centre, please visit the venue section of our website www.skillsandlearningace.com/our-centres/.

Refreshments: tea/coffee or vending machine(s) are available at some venues. Further information can be found in the venue section of our website www.skillsandlearningace.com/our-centres/.

Unspent Criminal Convictions we require learners to disclose any unspent criminal convictions. Please refer to www.skillsandlearningace.com/policies/disclosure-of-unspent-convictions.

If you have any accessibility or disability issues that we need to accommodate or if you think you may need any other support to complete your chosen course, please contact: 01202 123444 or e-mail enquiries@salbcp.com. All enquiries are treated in confidence.