Some very good feedback and suggestions here.

To add a little to it Peter, I don't think you are coming from a techie background? If so, then going straight in to a 5 day CCNA classroom course could be a bit like being thrown in at the deep end. It could mean that you won't get full value because you'll still be figuring out what the last bit was about as they are diving in to the next topic. Also, if you don't have access to some equipment to test/play with could mean that you lose some of what you've learned by not having the opportunity to repeat, play, etc.

The price for the course that you mentioned isn't outrageous but I would generally not send someone on a course like that until they have a decent grasp of the fundamentals of networking and some basic hands on experience. That way, they bring plenty of questions, etc. with them that means they get better value and experience from the material.