Hi Tom,
I’ve just done the training for level one online https://www.bslcourses.co.uk/
Basically you get videos to watch, then you have tutorials over skype when you are ready. You can take the actual qualification, but I am doing all of the courses including level 6, so you don’t need to do the exams if you don’t want to and just jump to the next level. This saves money too!
I’ve really enjoyed level 1 and the chap I had doing the tutorials was really nice. As for time, I think I needed the full week to practice using the signs and looking up some things in between too. I have 11 month old twins though, so time is a bit short for me! ? So if I was going to an actual course rather than online I would do the once a week.
Hope that helps and welcome to the forum. I’ve been off for a few weeks with poorly babies, but try and check in most days.
Cheers, Bec