SUPPORTING TEACHING & LEARNING IN SCHOOLS - LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATE
Duration: 35 weeks
Level: Level 2
Learning support staff, such as teaching assistants or cover supervisors, play a vital role in today’s classrooms by making sure pupils get the most out of their lessons. You will have the opportunity to work with children and young people and gain an understanding into their development. Your work in class will depend on how the teachers you work with plan their lessons and handle day-to-day classroom activities – however, you could find yourself supervising arts and crafts activities, helping with outings, or reading to the class.
As part of this course, you will also study the following components:
Supporting individuals with learning disabilities - Level 2 Certificate
Phonics (non-accredited)
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
This course offers a mixture of qualifications, that will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to work in the education industry. Study subjects include:
Children and young people’s development
- main stages of development and transitions that affect behaviour and development
- influences that affect children
Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people
- evidence or concerns of a child; disclosure, allegations, indicators
Communication and professional relationships
- interacting and establishing professional relationships with young children
- adapting communication verbally and non-verbally
Equality, diversity and inclusion
- legislation and code of practice
- inclusive practice in the workplace
Supporting learning and positive behaviour
- encouraging and rewarding positive behaviour
- supportive responses to behaviour
- applying skills and techniques for supporting positive behaviour
Supporting participation in learning and development activities
- factors involved when supporting individuals to take part in learning and development activities
- preparing the environment for an individual to engage in learning and development
- barriers to engagement and informed decisions around active participation
- providing the agreed support to enable individuals to engage
- adapting support to reflect the changing needs and levels of participation
Understanding how to support individuals with autistic spectrum conditions
- recognising the individual needs and abilities and supporting individuals with autism spectrum condition
- diagnostic features of autistic spectrum conditions
- sensory and perceptual difficulties, language and intellectual abilities
- legal and policy framework that underpins good practice in the support of individuals
Understand the context of supporting individuals with learning disabilities
- legislation and policies that support individuals with learning disabilities
- medical and social models of disability
- building empowerment and active participation
- identifying and adapting verbal and non-verbal communication
- effective language when considering ability
Introductory awareness of sensory loss
- steps to overcome factors that have a negative impact on individuals with sensory loss
- understanding causes of sensory loss
- effective communication and positive impact on individuals with sensory loss
- congenital and acquired sensory loss
Phonics
As part of your programme you will be introduced to phonics, which will support you in assisting with early literacy skills, helping children decode words and develop reading fluency. You will learn:
How sounds can correspond to individual or groups of letters, bringing together words, by sound
How phonics can support their writing skills, enabling them to know which letters they need to use when writing specific words
The differing types of phonics based resources and activities to improve reading
How to engage young children in phonics sessions
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
Portfolio of evidence
Work products
Professional discussions
Witness testimonies
Class discussions
Presentations
WHAT CAN I DO NEXT?
This qualification will enable you to progress within an educational setting as a Teaching Assistant (TA), where you can advance your experience and your qualifications to potentially become a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA). You may also wish to pursue employment in specialist roles within special educational needs.
There are also a range of further adult courses available at Preston College that compliment this sector, such as:
Supporting individuals with learning disabilities – Level 3 Award
Understanding behaviour that challenges – Level 2 Certificate
Mental health first aid – Level 2 Certificate
Understanding Children and Young Peoples Mental Health - Level 2 Certificate
Understanding Autism – Level 2 Certificate
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW?
You must have a work placement arranged for six hours per week, recent classroom experience prior to starting the course is essential. In order to work with children and young people you will be required to have a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
You must have a work placement secured within the first six weeks of commencing programme. Your work placement must be at least 6 hours per week, and you will be required to have DBS clearance. In order to progress in the sector, you are also required to have a Functional Skills at Level 2 in Maths and English or GCSE grade C (4) or above. If you do not currently hold these, then you are able to study Maths and English alongside your programme of study, if you possess proficient English and Maths skills at Level 2 standard. Your Maths and English skills will be assessed during the application process, where appropriate.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
You will need GCSE (or equivalent) in English at grade C (4) or above and GCSE (or equivalent) in Maths at grade D (3) or above. A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check and a suitable work placement is essential for this course. Your work placement should be 6 hours per week in a classroom and the placement should commence one month prior to the start of the course and continue for the duration of the course.
