Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools – Level 3

The Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools is a qualification for those members of the school workforce who already have considerable experience of directly supporting the teaching and learning of pupils in schools. The qualification consists of 11 mandatory units giving a total of 32 credits and a selection of optional units from which a minimum of 12 additional credits must be gained. The optional units cover a range of specialisms which may be a feature of the TA/LSW role at Level 3.

The mandatory units are as follows:

• Communication and professional relationships with children and young people
• Schools as organisations
• Support learning activities
• Promote children and young people’s positive behaviour
• Develop professional relationships with children, young people and adults
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people
• Support assessment for learning
• Understand child and young person development
• Engage in personal development in health, social care or children and young people’s settings
• Understand how to safeguard the well-being of children and young people
• Support children and young people’s health and safety

The optional units are divided into six groups as follows:

• Group A – Supporting Learning
• Group B – English as an additional language
• Group C – Special educational needs
• Group D – Providing pastoral support
• Group E – Supporting the wider work of the school
• Group F – Working with colleagues

Within each group there is a choice of units, with one or two required and barred combinations which will be explained at the appropriate time. The choice of optional units will depend on your specific role as a TA/LSW and advice will be given to help you choose which to complete.

There are weekly sessions in college on Monday evenings from 6pm to 9pm. The course is due to start in October 2021 and run until the end of June 2022 the following year. If there are any changes to this, you will be notified as soon as possible.

At the start of the course you will be given an overview of what will be covered in each session. There will be sessions about each of the mandatory units and some work in class that will form part of your portfolio of evidence. There will also be sessions relating to some of the optional units. If changes to the planned sessions are needed as the course progresses, you will be given a revised course overview.

You will also be visited in school. There will be a minimum of two visits, although there are often more than this over the course of the year. The visits will always be arranged in advance.

The Level 3 Diploma is assessed through a portfolio of evidence which is built up over the course of the year. There are several types of evidence including notes from the observation visits in school, written assignments, testimonies from witnesses in school, tasks completed in class at college and workbooks which we provide for you to complete. Samples of work are usually checked twice during the year by our Internal Verifier and again at the end of the year by an External Verifier from the awarding body.

To enrol on this course you must already have gained considerable experience in the role of TA/LSW and be working in a school as a TA/LSW (full-time or part-time) from September. You will also need to provide confirmation that you have the full support of your school and you must be able to demonstrate a good standard of Mathematics and written English, usually GCSE Grade C or equivalent.

The cost of the Level 3 course for 2020-2021 is £900, we do not yet know this information for the year 2021-2022, but will update this when we do. You may be eligible for an Advanced Learning loan to cover the cost of the course; information about this is available from Harriet Fraser, who is the adult education coordinator at Cirencester College. She can be contacted at harriet.fraser@cirencester.ac.uk or by telephone on 01285 640994. Harriet can also advise you about the possibility of paying for the course in instalments. All fees must be paid in full by the time the course starts.