FA-0711Software Development

WordPress Website Foundations

Build, customise and maintain a small WordPress site

Introduction

Why this course

Build a small blog or business website in a local or isolated WordPress training environment. Learn content editing, theme-based design and selected plugins, then review the security, backup and hosting decisions needed before launch.

The practical project uses sample content and a compatible theme. Hosting deployment is optional and depends on approved access; the course does not require a paid service or changes to an existing live website.

Learning outcomes

Explain the difference between self-hosted WordPress and a hosted WordPress.com service.
Install and configure a training site and manage posts, pages, categories, tags and media.
Customise navigation and appearance using the editing tools appropriate to the selected theme.
Evaluate and configure a small set of plugins for a demonstrated need.
Apply basic roles, maintenance and backup practices and outline a launch checklist.

Prerequisites

Basic computer literacy (file management, using web browsers)
Familiarity with using the internet and search engines
Basic understanding of how websites work (optional but helpful)
No prior coding or WordPress experience required

A computer able to run the approved local environment or access the supplied isolated site; installation privileges where required.

Training outline

3 modules

01Day 1 — WordPress and a working site5 topics

WordPress.org software versus WordPress.com hosting: control, installation and plan-dependent capabilities.
Install or access the training site, explore the dashboard and configure basic settings.
Distinguish posts and pages; organise blog content with categories and tags.
Create Home, About and Contact pages and sample posts using the block editor.
Practical work: build a simple content structure and check navigation between its pages.

02Day 2 — Themes, navigation and plugins5 topics

Select and activate a compatible theme; distinguish block themes and the Site Editor from classic themes and the Customizer.
Use the appropriate navigation, template or widget tools for the theme; configure the home page and blog listing.
Evaluate plugin need, compatibility, maintenance and permissions; avoid treating a fixed plugin list as universally essential.
Configure selected contact-form, search-optimisation or caching functionality in the lab; confirm the actual features available.
Practical work: customise header, footer and relevant layout areas, then test the sample form and navigation.

03Day 3 — Content, maintenance and launch preparation6 topics

Upload and organise media, optimise image dimensions and file size, and embed supported media.
Assign appropriate user roles; review updates, strong authentication, least privilege and basic security-plugin configuration where useful.
Back up both site files and database, and demonstrate or review restoration in the isolated environment.
Assess caching and performance using the selected host and plugins; discuss compatibility rather than assuming a cache plugin alone solves performance.
Review hosting, domain, DNS, HTTPS and local-to-hosted migration considerations.
Practical work: finish sample content and a maintenance/launch checklist; an optional staging deployment requires approved hosting access and is not promised as free or production-ready.

A programme built around your team.

Share your training goals and requirements.