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Teaching and Learning Support - Fast Track to Degree

Summary

This qualification (NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning) will provide you with an in-depth understanding of both 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.

This qualification will not only support employment opportunities, but also the possibility of progressing on to the Foundation Degree in Teaching and Learning Support. This course is ideal for those already working or volunteering in school, to develop their underpinning knowledge. It is also supportive as a stepping stone for people looking to move into roles in the future such as higher level teaching assistants and teachers.

You will be assigned a subject specialist course tutor who will deliver the scheduled sessions. The tutor will also be available for weekly support and to guide you from the beginning to the completion of your qualification. You will also have an assessor assigned to support with the competence element of the qualification.

The qualification is internally assessed using a range of methods including written assignments or tasks. You will also complete observations and professional discussions as part of your qualification. Expert tuition is delivered by our industry specialists on this programme, with access to continued support to assist in completing your assignments.

Next course dates

Start date Location Duration
07 Jan 2025
Bispham Campus
23 Weeks

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

This qualification can apply to the many varied roles that full and part-time support staff may fulfil, including roles that work directly with children and young people in the learning environment such as planning, delivering and reviewing assessment strategies to support learning alongside the teacher; bilingual support, special educational needs support, as well as 1-1 teaching assistant roles.

The specialist knowledge this course provides will enhance employment opportunities as well as support progression to related further study. There may be opportunities to progress on to the Foundation Degree in Teaching and Learning Support.

Key information

Entry Requirements

You must be over 19 years of age on the 31st August before the course start date.

It is desirable for students to have obtained or be working towards their English GCSE at grade C/4 or Level 2 Functional Skills.

You must be volunteering or employed in a school or college before you begin the course. You must have completed 100 hours experience in school or college before you commence the course, you will need to provide evidence of this from your setting in either the form of an email from a school address, or a letter headed document. It is recommended that you complete 200 hours in the school/college before the end of the course.

Ideally, you will have completed the NCFE CACHE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges before enrolling on to this course, however, this is not mandatory if you meet the minimum hours of experience in school.

Qualification obtained

Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning

Fees and funding

For more information, visit our page on Fees and Finance for Adult Learners.

Extra costs and equipment

You will need to purchase study essentials such as a notepad and stationery. It is desirable for students to have access to an electronic device (e.g. laptop) for completing their assignments, however college facilities such as the library are available for you to access computers.

It is your responsibility to gain your volunteer/work experience in the setting and, you will need to arrange this yourself, including completing the DBS with the setting; this is not provided by college.

Regulation and Accreditation

Accrediting Institution: N/A

Awarding Body: NCFE

Terms and conditions

Read our full terms and conditions for more information.

Tuition Fees

Read our tuition fees guide.

Other Costs and Equipment Needed

There is no specific equipment required to complete this qualification although there is a requirement to have a weekly placement for the full duration of the course. The recommended text for the course is Level 3 Diploma Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools by L. Burnham and B. Baker (2010)
There are no other costs associated with this course.

You may need to consider any costs that you would incur to attend placement.  Some support with travel and childcare costs may be available. 

Regulation and Accreditation

Accrediting Institution: N/A

Awarding Body: NCFE

Terms and Conditions

Read our full terms and conditions.

What will I learn?

What will I learn?

As part of this course you will study a range of mandatory modules, essential to your daily practice as a teaching assistant. These will extend and assess your knowledge base and also your practical competence within your setting. These are:

  • STL3C1 Schools and colleges as organisations
  • STL3C2 Support health and safety in a learning environment
  • STL3C3 Understand how to safeguard children and young people
  • STL3C4 Develop professional relationships with children, young people and adults
  • STL3C5 Understand how children and young people develop
  • STL3C6 Support positive behaviour in children and young people
  • STL3C7 Support children and young people during learning activities
  • STL3C8 Support English and maths skills
  • STL3C9 Support the use of ICT in the learning environment
  • STL3C10 Support assessment for learning
  • STL3C11 Engage in personal and professional development
  • STL3D12 Support children and young people’s speech, language and communication
  • STL3D13 Understand how to support bilingual learners
  • STL3D14 Understand how to support learning of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities
  • STL3D15 Support children and young people during transitions
  • STL3D16 Support the role of play, leisure and extra-curricular activities for children and young people

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

Volunteer or work experience is required in a school or college environment and you must have accrued 100 hours experience before the start date of the course. You will need to provide evidence of this from your setting in either the form of an email from a school address, or a letter headed document. It is recommended that you complete 200 hours in the school/college before the end of the course.

We recommend a minimum of 6 hours a week and this can be with any age group from Reception (age 5) to college/sixth form (age 19). You must be able to commit to the work/volunteer experience on a weekly basis for the full duration of the course. You will have regular contact with your assessor throughout your course who will also attend your volunteer/work experience to observe the development of your skills in practice; you must therefore have agreement from the setting that an assessor can attend on site to observe you.

As part of this course you will study a range of mandatory modules, essential to your daily practice as a teaching assistant. These will extend and assess your knowledge base and also your practical competence within your chosen placement. These are:

  • Communication and professional relationships with children, young people and adults (TDA 3.1)
  • Schools as organisations (TDA 3.2)
  • Understand child and young person development (CYP Core 3.1)
  • Understand how to safeguard the well-being of children and young people (CYP Core 3.3)
  • Promote children and young people’s positive behaviour (TDA 3.4)
  • Develop professional relationships with children, young people and adults (TDA 3.5)
  • Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people (TDA 3.6)
  • Support assessment for learning (TDA 3.7)

Industry Placement and Field Trips

Placement required in a school or college environment and attendance must have started prior to the start date of the course. We recommend a minimum of 6 hours a week and can be with any age group above the Reception stage.  You must be able to commit to the role on a weekly basis for the full duration of the course.  You must also have agreement from the setting that an assessor can attend on site to observe you.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Your course will begin with you attending college for an induction session to meet the curriculum team.

The course will then be delivered remotely with live lectures and support sessions schedule for a total of 4.5 hours a week for 24 weeks (term time only).

Within these sessions there will be tutor delivery, question and answer, discussion, group work tasks and individual tasks.

Approximately every 5 weeks you will attend College for a small group seminar within your scheduled delivery time.

All dates for college attendance will be provided at the start of your course.

You will also have regular contact with your assessor throughout your course who will also attend your placement to observe the development of your skills in practice.

It is expected that you will complete a minimum of 3 hours independent study, each week, outside of the class to complete the assessment tasks which take the form of electronic workbooks.

Expert Tutors

All staff involved in the delivery of adult education courses within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver. The approval process ensures that staff delivering a given programme are appropriately qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and professional practice.

 

How will I learn?

This course will be delivered face-to-face for 3 hours a week for 23 consecutive weeks (term time only) from the course start date. During each session, you will undertake a variety of activities with your peers, such as discussions, group work activities, research, and skills development.

It is expected that you will complete a minimum of 4.5-6 hours independent study, each week, outside of the class to complete the assessment tasks which take the form of assignments/tasks. These assessments should be completed electronically at level 3 and support will be provided to upload these to an electronic portfolio.

This course is a fast track to support with progression onto the Foundation Degree in Teaching and Learning Support in September. Students must be committed to dedicating time outside of class for additional research to support with their assignments.

Expert tutors

All staff involved in the delivery of adult education courses within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

The approval process ensures that staff delivering a given programme are appropriately qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and professional practice.

Entry Requirements

You must be over 19 years of age on the 31st August before the course start date 

You should be volunteering or employed in a school or college before you begin the course.  It is recommended that you complete 200 hours in the school/college before the end of the course. 

Ideally, you will have completed the NCFE CACHE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges before enrolling on to this course; however this is not mandatory if you meet the minimum hours of experience in school. 

Qualification Obtained

Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning

How will I be assessed?

How will I be assessed?

All units will be internally assessed using a range of methods including written assignments or tasks such as designing a leaflet or poster, charts, using case studies or a workbook. You may also be asked to complete presentations/audio recordings as evidence of your understanding.

You will have a minimum of 2 observations in your work/volunteer experience, which will be completed by your assessor to confirm your competence. You will also complete a minimum of 2 professional discussions with your assessor to discuss your practice.

You will complete assignments/tasks on a weekly basis and these will be uploaded to an electronic portfolio.