Supporting Teaching and Learning

Course Information

Introduction

*Only accepting students aged 17 at the start of the course

Do you dream of becoming a qualified teaching assistant, working with children or young people? If so, this programme will help you launch your career.

You will ensure a healthy, safe, and supportive learning environment. You will also support positive behaviour. A work placement is also built into this course providing you with valuable industry insight.

Overview

This qualification provides learners with an in-depth understanding of the knowledge and skills needed when working directly with children and young people in school and college environments. It covers all aspects of specialist support including planning, delivering and reviewing assessment strategies to support learning alongside the teacher; bilingual support; special needs support; and personal development and reflective practice.

Who is this course for?

As this course is a one year programme we are only accepting students aged 17 at the start of the course. This qualification is aimed at learners working in roles that offer specialist support for pupils’ learning in primary, secondary or special schools, as well as colleges.

Course units/modules

• Schools and colleges as organisations
• Support children and young people during learning activities
• Support health and safety in a learning environment
• Support English and maths skills* [no assessment]
• Understand how to safeguard children and young people
• Support the use of ICT in the learning environment
• Develop professional relationships with children, young people and adults
• Support assessment for learning
• Understand how children and young people develop
• Engage in personal and professional development
• Support positive behaviour in children and young people
• Support children and young people’s speech, language and communication
• Understand how to support bilingual learners
• Understand how to support learning of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities
• Support children and young people during transitions
• Support the role of play, leisure and extra-curricular activities for children and young people

Benefits and skills

This qualification provides you with the knowledge, understanding and skills to work in a variety of unsupervised job roles that support children and young people’s learning in schools or colleges.

Entry requirements

4 GCSEs at grade 4 and above, with English Language and preferably Maths at grade 3. You must be at least 17 years old to do this course.

Available apprenticeships and progression options

Roles this qualification will prepare you for include:

• Teaching Assistant
• Learning Support Assistant
• Special Needs Assistant

Assessment types

Learning is assessed internally through a portfolio of evidence. This portfolio includes written assignments, direct observation on your work placement, and professional discussion.

• Direct observation: A qualified teacher or workplace assessor observes the learner in a real work environment.
• Professional discussion: The learner discusses their practice with a professional.
• Written assignments: The learner submits assignments to their tutor for marking.
• Reflection: The learner reflects on their practice in real work situations.
• Witness evidence: The learner provides evidence when directed by the sector skills assessment strategy.