About the programme
The Sleep Practitioner Programme at the London School of Childcare Studies provides an exceptional educational journey into the world of sleep science, consulting and practice. Accredited at OCN Level 6, this comprehensive programme has been carefully put together by renowned experts in the field of sleep, including Rozanne Hay (director at Baby Sleep Rescue and IACSC), Ana Brito (clinical sleep physiologist at Guy’s and St Thomas|Evelina children’s hospital, and director at Sleep.8 consultancy), Kris Kasperkiewicz (director at LSCS, neurobiologist and nutritionist).
The programme emphasizes evidence-based strategies and practical applications surrounding sleep behaviours, neurobiology, and the effective strategies for improving sleep quality.
It provides a thorough understanding of sleep physiology, diagnostic techniques, and developing and implementing effective solutions.
As a prospective sleep practitioner, you will gain invaluable insights and practical tools for aiding those struggling with various sleep issues.
The programme is a cohort-based learning experience. This approach fosters a sense of community and makes learning more enjoyable and personal. Engaging with fellow students allows for the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and real-life examples, enriching the overall educational experience.
Who is this course for?
Although the main focus is for anyone wanting to become a competent sleep practitioner, the programme is designed to cater to a wide range of healthcare professionals, including Maternity Nurses, Health Visitors, Mental Health Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Early Years Educators, and anyone else wanting to adopt a holistic approach to children’s well-being in their practice.
About a third of our students are parents who have personally experienced struggles and decided to acquire knowledge to assist other parents facing similar challenges. These individuals often bring a great deal of compassion to the program.
More and more parents are turning to Sleep Practitioners to help guide them when having sleep difficulties with their children. This programme equips you with all the techniques & knowledge to help support parents with their baby or child’s sleeping. You will learn how to approach parents in a professional and considerate way and how to effectively communicate the best methods available to them based on their individual needs.
For more information about the role of a Sleep Practitioner and earning potential, please view our Sleep Practitioner Job Description.
The programme is run over 3 months, consisting of 10 weekly live and interactive sessions and supported time to complete assignments. Alongside this, students have full access to the eLearning course. Both options are available, and we encourage students to make use of both of these, but it is the student’s choice as to what they want to follow.
As part of this programme students will also gain exclusive access to our private Facebook group where students can join discussions with other students and our trainers.
What's included
At the heart of the course are the live, interactive sessions. These are held remotely to provide flexibility, and are typically 2 to 3 hours long. The programme consists of 10 consecutive weekly sessions, which are recorded so that learners can either revisit them, or catch up if they missed any.
The cohort-based structure creates a supportive environment where students can learn from one another, discuss challenges, and celebrate successes. By sharing their diverse backgrounds and experiences, students gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted aspects of sleep practice. This collaborative learning approach enhances both personal growth and professional development, as learners build connections and networks within the field.
Through this interactive and collaborative setting, participants not only gain knowledge from the program materials, but also benefit from the collective wisdom of their peers. The cohort-based nature of the Sleep Practitioner Programme adds a unique and enriching dimension to the learning process, ensuring that learners receive a comprehensive and enjoyable educational experience.
“Cohort-based” refers to a learning approach where learners progress through our sleep programme together as a group, rather than individually at their own pace. It involves a structured timeline and shared learning experiences, allowing learners to engage and interact with each other. This collaborative environment promotes peer-to-peer support, fosters meaningful discussions, and creates a sense of community among the participants. By being part of a cohort, learners have the opportunity to share their experiences, learn from one another, and make the learning process more enjoyable and personalised.
The last 2 live sessions are group study sessions. These are a way to put all the prior learning into practice in a safe way, by reviewing case studies and experimenting with solutions in a safe setting.
They are also used to share some of the red flags in such scenarios that may not be evident to someone new to sleep practice.
At the start if the course, learners are given access to the entire online Sleep Practitioner Programme, which allows learners to use this resource as a complement to the live sessions. Alternatively, some learners have a preference for following a self-paced approach, and prefer to use this over the live sessions. whereas others prefer the live sessions. Either way, both are available to all learners.
Our program is now conveniently accessible through a user-friendly app, ensuring that it can be easily used while on the move, making it more accessible and convenient for users who are out and about.
At our programme, we prioritise your success and provide dedicated support. Our trainers are readily available to address any questions you may have and assist you with your assignments.
Furthermore, each cohort benefits from a cohort-specific active discussion group, where participants can engage in meaningful discussions, ask questions, and learn from one another. Our trainers actively participate in these discussions, offering their expertise and guidance. Students have said that they have found it to be an invaluable tool for enhancing their learning journey.
We know that a launching a new career can be daunting, and we want our learners to succeed. All learners are able to join a private Facebook group, open to both current and past students, as well as the trainers. This is an excellent forum for checking and verifying that your own solutions are appropriate and correct, or to receive valuable feedback.
All learners can book onto our very popular reflux, colic and food sensitivity workshop, run by an experienced paediatric dietitian. This is a great complement to the programme and goes into more detail about this critical area that can have a significant impact on babies and young children.
As part of our commitment to continuous learning and professional development, we extend an invitation to all current and former learners of our Sleep Practitioner Programme to join our exclusive Expert Seminars. These seminars are online training webinars led by industry experts in various relevant fields.
By attending these seminars, participants have the opportunity to expand their knowledge, gain insights from experienced professionals, and stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field. Additionally, upon completion of each seminar, attendees receive a certificate of attendance, recognizing their participation and commitment to ongoing education.
Exclusive 4-Week Money-Back Guarantee
We’re so sure that our Sleep Practitioner Programme will meet or exceed your expectations and equip you with the skills to become a successful sleep practitioner that we are offering you a money-back guarantee to ensure your complete satisfaction.
Here’s how it works:
- Enrol in our Sleep Practitioner Programme (next start date 3rd August) and embark on your transformative journey.
- Immerse yourself in the comprehensive curriculum guided by experienced professionals and sleep specialists.
- Apply your knowledge in practical scenarios, honing your skills to address various sleep challenges.
- Engage with our supportive community to connect with like-minded individuals and our dedicated support team.
You have four weeks to evaluate the course your enrolment date. If, within this time frame, you feel that the program isn’t the right fit, just contact us at info@childcarestudies.co.uk with a brief explanation of why it didn’t meet your expectations (terms & conditions apply*).
Our team will process your refund promptly, providing a stress-free experience.
We genuinely care about your learning journey, and this guarantee underscores our commitment to your success.
We are excited to announce the launch of our new Start-up Hub. This comprehensive program is designed to empower our learners and equip them with the essential skills and knowledge needed to succeed as entrepreneurs.
Throughout the programme, participants will delve into various aspects of entrepreneurship, including personal branding, business strategy, marketing techniques, and setting up successful consultations. We will provide guidance on developing a strong personal brand that resonates with their target audience, as well as practical tips for establishing and managing effective consultations.
Course Content
The programme covers the physiology of sleep, the importance of sleep in babies and children and the relationship between diet/nutrition, exercise, routine and sleep at all stages from new-born to 12 years old. It also covers sleep disorders, and some of the common training techniques. The course also explains how to assess a sleep setting, and how to create a plan to resolve a particular sleep issue. There is also a separate session on employability.
This introduces the role and responsibilities of the sleep practitioner and then goes onto consider
- parental emotional state
- child temperament
- family dynamics
- cultural differences
Sleep physiology starts with defining sleep and understanding its function, before looking at the biological mechanisms involved in regulating sleep
This is followed by exploring sleep architecture, including the different sleep stages and how sleep cycles through the night
After reviewing typical sleep patterns, both during the day at night, this chapter explores the causes and effects of lack of sleep.
It then explains sleep hygiene, with all the different aspects that make up sleep hygiene.
It also looks at tools, techniques and objects that can be used to support sleep
This cahpater breaks down the conditions that may affect sleep into 4 broad categories
- Acute illness
- Feeding issues
- Bedtime resistance and anxieties
- Sleep disorders
Sleep Techniques can be useful tools, but they are not always suitable. The chapter starts with considerations that must be looked to ascertain whether a sleep technique intervention is warranted.
Then, with regard to the technques themselves, the chapter looks at several different techniques, starting with the harshest to the most gentle:
- Crying
- Fading
- No cry
The chapter also explains some general strategies, and those for older children
The strategies chapter focuses on
- a review of the main causes
- Diagnosing and how to assess
- Developing solutions
- Putting together sleep plans
There are a number of special cases which warrant additional consideration when addressing sleep issues. This chapter goes through the following:
- Premature babies
- Neurodivergence and Autism
- ADHD
- Other syndromes
- Multiples
The employability chapter prepares the student for a life as an independent consultant. It covers:
- Planning
- Setting up
- Developing your business
Pre-requisites
This programme draws on prior understanding and experience of baby and child sleep so learners should have significant experience of working with both babies and children.
Assessment
During the programme you will receive assignment questions and will have 6 weeks beyond the end of the taught course to complete them.
Your assignments will be assessed by one of the trainers, who will contact you about your results. If you successfully pass your assignments, we will request a certificate to be issued by the OCN awarding body; this process should take no more than two weeks.
Extensions: In a situation where the student is unable to complete their assignments within the given period, the student can apply for an extension, detailing the reason for the extension.
Certification
The programme is accredited by OCN (Credit4Learning)
Training Location
The weekly sessions are typically held in our virtual classroom, hosted on Zoom.
Fees
The full fee for the programme is £1,680.
Entry onto the programme can be bought either as a one time up front payment, or through instalments (across 12 months).
Paying by instalments – requires a registration fee of £140, followed by 11 monthly payments of £140 (total £1680 – zero interest).
Pay up front – if you sign up more than 4 weeks ahead, pay only £300 to secure your place, with the balance due 2 weeks before the start. And get a discount of £85!

Request a call back !
Would you like to arrange a call back to explore the suitability of the course and discuss if it aligns with your needs and interests?
Upcoming Intakes
January 2024 intake
- Start date: Thursday, 18th January 2024
Sessions start at 7pm
March 2024 intake
- Start date: Saturday, 9th March 2024
Sessions start at 10am
May 2024 intake
- Start date: Thursday, 16th May 2024
Sessions start at 7pm
July 2024 intake
- Start date: Saturday, 6th July 2024
Sessions start at 10am
September 2024 intake
- Start date: Thursday, 5th September 2024
Sessions start at 7pm
October 2024 intake
- Start date: Tuesday, 29th October 2024
Sessions start at 7pm
Event | Venue | Date | |
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Sleep Practitioner Programme | January 2024 | Virtual classroom |
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Sleep Practitioner Programme | March 2024 | Virtual classroom |
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Sleep Practitioner Programme | May 2024 | Virtual classroom |
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Sleep Practitioner Programme | July 2024 | Virtual classroom |
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Sleep Practitioner Programme | September 2024 | Virtual classroom |
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Sleep Practitioner Programme | October 2024 | Virtual classroom |
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Register |
Our team of experts supporting you:

Rozanne Hay
Paediatric Nurse & Sleep Practitioner
Rozanne has an extensive knowledge of sleep practice, backed up by many years of practice. She specialises in the younger infants.
Rozanne is well read, and often attends sleep conferences. She is also the director of continuing education at the IACSC

Dr Ana Brito
Clinical Sleep Physiologist & Sleep Practitioner
Dr. Ana Brito is a sleep physiologist and sleep coach with 18 years of Clinical and Educational experience within the sleep field.
She has over 10 years of NHS experience within sleep departments, 4 of them in a pediatric setting. She is passionate about education and supporting adults and families with children improving their sleep.
She is currently supporting the sleep diagnostic services at Evelina’s London Children’s Hospital and also working with cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia in adults.

Julie Heginbottom
Sleep Practitioner & Assessor
Julie has been a Matenrity Nurse and Sleep Practitioner for many years, following on from initially working in Early Years.
As well as one of the trainers for this programme, she also runs some of the Matenrity Nurse lessons, and is also an assessor for both programmes.

Kris Kasperkiewicz
Neurobiologist & Nutritionist
Kris has an extensive understanding of the physiology of sleep, with an overall interest in health, underpinned by sleep, nutrition, physical activity and emotional wellbeing. He is a trainer and course writer for this programme, and our Applied Neuroscience course.

Lorna Saunders
Marketing & Social Media Expert
Lorna, an Early Years Teacher, made the bold decision to embark on an entrepreneurial journey and establish her own business. With unwavering determination, she founded “Baba Roo,” a small but flourishing venture. In addition to her thriving enterprise, Lorna has cultivated a strong presence on various social media platforms, effectively connecting with her audience and building a devoted following.