Education and Childcare Assisting Teaching

More children and young people in mainstream education settings are being identified as having additional needs, with many requiring additional support in classes to assist them in the learning process. This support is provided by the class teacher as well as the class teaching assistant or a learning support practitioner. Teaching assistants are required to support the class teacher in their role and some, in the form of higher-level teaching assistants (HLTA), deliver teaching sessions on behalf the class teacher. Students will gain first-hand experiences of working in schools where they will acquire knowledge and develop the skills required to support children and young people with their learning, as well a supporting the class teacher with the effective and smooth running of the school day. Students can progress to a wide range of career options in the fields of education, health and social care, both directly into the workforce or onto higher education to study higher apprenticeships, foundation and honours degrees.

Core Elements (Year 1)

• Wider contexts of education
• Supporting education
• Safeguarding
• Behaviour
• Parents, families and carers
• Working with others
• Child development
• Observation and assessment
• Reflective practice
• Equality and diversity
• Special educational needs and disability
• English as an additional language

Assisting Teaching Occupational Specialism (Year 2)

• Support the class teacher to enhance children’s education, individually and in groups
• Plan, provide and review educational opportunities in collaboration with teachers and other adults
• Safeguard and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children and young people
• Recognise, adapt and respond to individual children’s needs, including those with special educational needs and disability, to support development and access to the curriculum

To succeed you will need to be passionate about working with children and young people and have effective communication and teamworking skills. As part of the course, you will undertake a minimum of 315 hours industry placement with schools or training providers.

On completion of the course, you may wish to go straight into employment or you may choose to continue onto university to study courses for a range of job roles in education.

Assessment, which includes exams, practical tasks and an employer-set project, will take place both in college and on placement.

You will need 4 GCSEs at grade 4 including GCSE Maths or GCSE English Language. You will also require an enhanced DBS check prior to commencing industry placement which college will help you to organise.

You could progress to university, higher apprenticeship or employment