This qualification will enable learners to work in the following roles:

• teaching assistant
• classroom assistant
• learning support assistant
• additional needs assistant
• pastoral/welfare support assistant
• bilingual support assistant
• foundation stage assistant

The Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools is ideal for those who

• are brand new to the profession but want to become a teaching assistant
• already working in a learning support position in schools and wish to further develop skills and knowledge and / or obtain a formal qualification

YOU DO NOT NEED ANY EXISTING QUALIFICATIONS TO TAKE THIS ONE.

The course is 100% online. Students work through 5 high quality e-learning packages on our LearnHub that help provide the required knowledge.  The Units covered are:

• Unit 1 : Child and young person development
• Unit 2: Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people
• Unit 3: Communication and professional relationship with children, young people and adults
• Unit 4: Equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people
• Unit 5: Schools and organisations

Our online modules are packed with information about the profession, industry requirements, legislations, techniques and more but most importantly provide numerous exercises. They are designed so that you are completely ready to successfully complete your assignments, and for a successful career.

The course is 100% online. Students work through 5 high quality e-learning packages on our LearnHub that help provide the required knowledge, complete the accompanying workbooks and then take part in a number of professional discussions to prove their knowledge.

There is no requirement to write long essays. There are two types of assessment:

• Knowledge-based assessment – remote professional discussion at the end of the course. This is with one of our experienced assessors in the form of a conversation where they will check your knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
• Practical skills assessment – portfolio of evidence signed by a workplace supervisor (students will need to have a placement in a school or educational setting in which to gather evidence of skills and learning). This may mean that before you start this course, you need to be in a position where you are already working with children

Our qualification can be achieved quickly and smoothly from the comfort of your own home and your existing work environment. The qualification has been created by a team that has over 10 years of experience delivering online qualifications and is strictly regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) that regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England.

The Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools is is fully accredited and nationally recognised by Ofqual – the UK government regulator of qualifications. This means that the qualification is accepted by schools and other educational institutes UK wide.

Although there is no international accreditation standard, usually UK qualifications are held in high esteem around the world.

These assessments take up to 3 hours, plus additional time to secure your workplace evidence.

For successful completion, students will be expected to have studied this subject for approximately 300 hours. It usually takes between 4 weeks – 6 months for students to achieve the qualification.

This Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools qualification helps you to enhance your career profile. Successful completion enables learners to progress to the other qualifications such as:

• Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (RQF)
• Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (RQF)
• Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (RQF)
• Intermediate/Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
• Level 3 Certificate in Cover Supervision of pupils in Schools (RQF)
• Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools (RQF)
• Level 2 qualifications in Children’s Care, Learning and Development, Play Work or Youth Work Practice

There are some teaching assistants who find that they want to take the next step on their career path and discover how they can become a teacher. Many schools and local authorities are happy to support teaching assistants whilst they train to become a qualified teacher.

This may require the teaching assistant to study and obtain their degree, however, there are other methods that they can take to be able to gain the required qualifications, all whilst they are still working in their current teaching assistant role. 

Whilst you do not need to have a GCSE in maths to be able to apply to be a teaching assistant, it is usually asked that you have a pass mark of 4 or above (C) in GCSE maths. This is largely due to the fact that you will be required to assist with maths based learning and if you are in Key Stage 2, then this can often leave those who are not clear on their maths, a problem. 

If you want to gain experience as a teaching assistant, but there are no current roles available to you, then it is a good idea to try and volunteer in a local school. You can listen to the children read and help in a classroom setting. 

If you want to become a TA, but you don’t have any experience, then the good news is that it is still possible to follow this career path. Whilst it is always great to have some relevant experience to show when you apply for a teaching assistant job, you don’t have to have any specific experience when it comes to becoming a TA.

In some schools, SEN teaching assistants will earn more than their standard teaching assistant counterparts. This is largely down to the fact that there is a higher intensity level in their job role, as well as a requirement for more training and experience. 

The salary of a teaching assistant is spread out throughout all 12 months of the year. This means that whilst they do not work through the summer break, they do still receive a wage. That said, this does not mean that they earn money as their salary is only applicable for the time that they work, however, is spread out over 12 months.

If you want to become a good teaching assistant in the UK, then the best advice is to make sure that you learn as much as you can. This could be learning on the job, as much of the skills that you need to now are obtained. 

It can also be using a variety of courses to increase your learning and give you the tools that you can then put into your every day working with the children. 

It has to be said that the salary of a teaching assistant is not always the best perk, however, it is important to remember that becoming a teaching assistant is one of the most rewarding jobs that you can do.

The knowledge that you are supporting the children in your school and providing them with the best level of education, in a safe space. That is one of the most worthwhile reasons to choose a teaching assistant as your job role.

There are a variety of different titles that a teaching assistant can have. It really depends on the type of school that they work in and what their role is identified as being.

You may find that a teaching assistant is also referred to as a classroom assistant, a learning support assistant. They may also be called a teaching aide.

A good teaching assistant will be patient, calm and kind. They will be able to listen to children and support them in a variety of their daily tasks. A good teaching assistant is creative, friendly and organised. They are able to tackle a variety of tasks and get them completed to a high standard. 

They will be able to identify key areas of learning and provide support to the children that need it most. Children within the school should feel comfortable to talk to their teaching assistant and view them as a trusted adult in the setting. 

A good teaching assistant will also enjoy working with children and take great pride in being able to show them that they can learn and grow.

A grade 4 teaching assistant is often referred to as a higher level teaching assistant or HLTA. These are responsible for all of the usual tasks that a teaching assistant is required to be carried out. However, they may also take on a lower level of teaching when they are required to. 

The salary that you can expect to receive as a teaching assistant will really depend on how many hours you work, where you are in the UK and also the level of experience and qualifications that you have as a TA.

The teaching assistant qualifications start at a level 2, if you want to take this one step further, then you can study for your level 3 qualification.

A level 3 teaching assistant is able to support with a variety of classroom management tasks, including evaluating learning and behaviour plans and creating learning materials too. 

Both teaching assistants and learning assistants can both be found working in a classroom setting. They offer support to the teacher during their teaching, and they are there to ensure that the children within the class receive the very best level of education possible.

Not only will they work with individual children on a one-on-one basis, but they will also be asked to work with groups for focused learning as well as support children during the class input and work to keep them on target and focused.