To achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools qualification you must complete 11 mandatory units and a selection of optional units from groups A - F to ensure you have achieved the 44 credits required.

The mandatory units are:

• Communication and professional relationships with children, young people and adults
• 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
• Understand child and young person development
• Understand how to safeguard the well being of children and young people
• Support children and young people's health and safety
• Support assessment for learning
• Engage in personal development in health, social care or children's and young people's settings

Optional units allow the learner to tailor the qualification to their role, these include:

• Plan and deliver learning activities under the direction of a teacher
• Support Literacy development
• Support Numeracy development
• Support Teaching and learning in a curriculum area
• Support bilingual learners
• Invigilate tests and examinations
• Team working
• Support children's speech, language and communication
• Support disabled children and young people and those with special educational needs

Telephone interview is required.

Learners must be aged 16 years or older and working a minimum of 15 hours each week in a school. This course is part of the new QCF supporting teaching and learning qualification suite, it will provide learners with a secure understanding of the knowledge and skills needed when working directly with children and young people in school environments.

Aged 19 to 23 - You may be eligible for full fee remission, meaning there is nothing for you to pay. Contact us to find out if this applies to you. If you have to pay, you can spread the cost by paying in instalments.

Aged 24 or over - Nothing to pay now - you do not have to make any upfront payment, your fees can be paid for through a government loan. These loans are available to everyone regardless of your income or savings. All you need to do is complete a form which we can help you with. Repayment of the loan only starts when you earn £1,750 or more per month (£21,000 per year) when an affordable amount will be deducted directly from your salary. 

Contact direct.gov.uk/advancedlearning loans.

Assessment is by production of a personal portfolio of evidence demonstrating understanding and competence in practice of the learning outcomes of the Level 3 Diploma. Learners must complete a selection of assignment tasks as part of their evidence.

The learner will be assessed in their workplace by a qualified business trainer/assessor.

This qualification has been designed to allow progression into the school workforce. Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) status Foundation Degrees Degree.

To find out more information or to enrol please email distance.learning@bcot.ac.uk quoting the course reference.