The usual tip of research as thoroughly as possible before starting. What's expected in terms of outcomes for the National Standards is freely downloadable from DfT and provides what is expected and the reasoning behind it, so if you start off knowing what you need to know that can only make it easier. It could be the basic course materials are freely downloadable too (they are in Scotland, but level 3 is not revised to National Standards yet).
The helmet thing: Bikeability/National Standards itself has no helmet requirement, but providers may add one if they see fit (and if they do then I think it should be questioned, because promoting helmets discourages cycling so they're scoring an own-goal). The National Standards outcomes documents have the following to say about helmets, at Level 1:
"Trainees wearing a helmet should understand how to fit and adjust it."
and that seems to be about it. The "should I wear one to collect him" thing is about positive examples and role-modelling. It has been widely assumed by many people that wearing an unnecessary piece of personal protection with no track record of increasing safety for the sort of cycling taught by Bikeability and that has been seen to discourage cycling is a "good example", but as you may have inferred I'm not convinced. I don't wear one to teach because I want to set the example that safety is about skills, knowledge and awareness, not dressing up like the Yellow Power Ranger.
Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...
).
