Level 3 CACHE GCSE Maths question

[Sooty1977]

Hi, a member of staff is leaving our local Playschool and my wife has been asked if she would like to start working there. All fine however my wife, who has 9 GCSEs from A to C including English and Science, went to University and had a career in finance before becoming a mum only has a D in Maths GCSE which she took in 1994.
Her Playschool have asked her to start taking the level 3 Diploma but I am reading she needs the Maths GCSE before she can start this, because she would need bursary funding to take the course. This changed last September from what I can see.
I take it she can work at the Playschool but she will also have to take her Maths GCSE next year, then start her level 3 diploma once she has passed her GCSE? Seems very long winded given her finance experience, considering she will be working with 2 to 4 year olds. Is there another course she could do instead which doesn't need Maths GCSE? It would be hard for her to take the GCSE it given it has been 21 years since she last took it and being a mum of two she's manic enough during the day and evenings as it is, and given her Financial experience dealing with manual calculations.
I'm new to this industry and trying to help her so any advice would be great, thank you.....