Become a teaching assistant with a FREE course at ELATT
ELATT
The Learning Community
ELATT's Teaching Assistant courses are now full. You can still apply but our classes will start in September 2024
Become a teaching assistant with a FREE course at ELATT
About ELATT's Teaching Assistant course
We offer courses to help our students find jobs in schools or other work with children. The courses run in Hackney and Ealing some courses are in-person and also online.
Students who are still developing their English and/or are new to the UK education system can start with ‘Step to Teaching Assistant’. This is a Level 1 course which will give you an Award in Personal Development: Volunteering. Students who are fluent in English and have some experience can join our Level 2 Teaching Assistant course. This will give you an Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools. Students who are volunteering or working in a school can progress to the L2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching And Learning In Schools . We also offer the Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools to students who are already working in schools.
The course is usually one day a week (split into two mornings) for 12-16 weeks for the L1 and L2 Awards. The certificate and diploma will be another 18 -24 weeks. You will complete a portfolio for your assessment. You will learn about: how to support learning, equality, diversity and inclusion (levels 1 and 2) as well as child development, safeguarding and schools as organisations (level 2) and supporting children with special education needs in (level 3) .
You need sufficient English to access the L1 and L2 courses (minimum good Level 1, including writing) and an interest in learning and education. To join the Level 3 course, you need L2 English/Maths or GCSEs.
Please note that to get a job as a classroom assistant, you need to be able to show experience (which can be voluntary), and many schools require you to have Level 2 English and Maths.
Career Potential
According to Prospects.ac.uk, starting salaries for full-time, permanent TAs are typically around £17,364.
Apply now to gain new skills, qualifications and take the first step to your new career.
We're here for you as the UK emerges from the coronavirus pandemic: our Sixth Form classes are now all face-to-face, and we're offering a mix of online and in-class options for our adult courses. You'll receive the same personalised support whichever way you study at ELATT.
Read more about online learning at ELATT
10 - 16 Weeks
Duration
2 Days
Days per week
+1 Day
Self Study + Volunteering
9.30am - 4.30pm
Daytime study
Online
Environment
Content
Mandatory Unit:
- Supporting Others
- Equality & Diversity
- Using Materials and Equipment
These units may vary according to the student group.
Requirements and Qualifications
Entry Requirements:
- Willing to volunteer with children/young people or with ESOL adults
- Sufficient English to access the courses (minimum good Level 1, including writing)
- An interest in learning and education.
*Students who have English as their first/main language are welcome to join the Level 2 course if they wish to work or volunteer in education.
Qualifications:
- Level 1 City & Guilds: Award in Personal Skills: Volunteering
Progression:
- Volunteering in schools and adult education
- Level 2 Award or Certificate in Teaching Assistant
16 Weeks
Duration
2 Mornings
Mornings per week
+1 Day
Self Study
9.30am - 4.30pm
Daytime study
Online
Environment
Content
Mandatory Unit:
- Child Development
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Safeguarding
- Schools as Organisations
- Communication & Professional Relationships
Please note the qualification for these five units is the shorter Award. For this qualification, you do not need to be working or volunteering in a school.
Requirements and Qualifications
Entry Requirements:
- Willing to volunteer with children/young people or with ESOL adults
- Sufficient English to access the courses (minimum good Level 1, including writing)
- An interest in learning and education.
*Students who have English as their first/main language are welcome to join the Level 2 course if they wish to work or volunteer in education.
Qualifications:
- Level 2 Pearson: Support Work in Schools Award
Progression:
- L2 Award Certificate in Teaching Assistant
This Award can help you to find your first job in education.
Previous graduates from this course have found work as TAs when they already have relevant work experience. Others have secured jobs as lunchtime supervisors as a first step into TA work. The qualification is also accepted by many pre-schools and nurseries.
30 - 32 Weeks
Duration
Half a Day
Days per week
At least 1 Day
Volunteering/Working in School
Half a Day
Daytime study
Online
Environment
Content
Mandatory Unit:
- Child and young person development
- Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people
- Communication and professional relationships with children, young people and adults
- Equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people
Schools as organisations - Working with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities
- Supporting positive behaviour
- Supporting learning
- Children’s health and safety
This Certificate has 30 credits. To gain this qualification, you need to be volunteering or working in a school at least once a week. You will be observed in your job or placement as part of this course.
Requirements and Qualifications
Entry Requirements:
- Level 2 Award Support Work in Schools
- Have a volunteer placement or job in a school
- Sufficient English to access the course (minimum good Level 2, including writing plus a commitment to working towards L2 English)
- An interest in learning and education
Qualifications:
- Level 2 Pearson Certificate Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
Progression:
- This Certificate can help you find work in mainstream and special schools. Initially you are likely to be offered short term contracts or agency work
- Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
18 - 24 Months
Duration
2 Class Days
Day per week
At least 1 Day
Volunteering/Working in School
1 Day
Self study
Online
Environment
Content
Mandatory Unit:
- Working with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities
- Supporting children’s behaviour, emotional and social wellbeing
- Supporting children’s personal development
- Supporting children’s health and safety
- Promoting positive behaviour
- Safeguarding
- Understanding child development
This Diploma has 44 credits. To gain this qualification, you need to be working in a school for a minimum of one day a week. You will be observed in your job or placement as part of this course.
Requirements and Qualifications
Entry Requirements:
- Level 2 in English (Functional Skills, GCSE or ESOL)
- Ability to research and write independently
- Have a volunteer placement or job in a school
- A commitment to working in learning and education
- Students generally join our Level 2 Award first. This qualification can then be upgraded when you join the L3 Diploma course.
Qualifications:
- Level 3 City and Guilds Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
Progression:
- This Diploma, with a SEND focus, will help you find work in mainstream and special schools.
Which units will I study for my course?
All our courses have one or more mandatory units and a choice of additional units.
Course content is tailored for you (and your employer) and the list of units outlined here are a guide only. Units covered will also depend on your prior learning and credit requirement. If there is something specific that you are interested in learning, please discuss this with your tutor during induction.
What if I don't have the entry requirements for a course?
There are other courses available to help you build up the skills and qualifications you need to be eligible for our courses. Please get in touch to discuss this further!
Which level can I study?
During your appointment assessment, we will help you work out which course will be the most suitable for you based on your results, previous experiences and interests.
Will my course cost?
Course tuition fees
As a charity, ELATT works tirelessly to access a range of funding and donations to keep our courses free.
In 2021-2022 we had 900 students in total, and none had to pay fees. That means 100% got a free course!
If you are over 19, not all our Level 3 qualifications are fully funded, so you might have to take out a student loan to do a Level 3 course. If that's the case for your Level 3 course, we'll let you know as soon as you apply.
We also can't train you if you are on a Student Visa, Visitor's Visa or Temporary Stay, or are an Overseas Student.
Each year we support hundreds of different people from all walks of life, of all backgrounds, ages, circumstances and skills levels. There's a really good chance that you can get a free course at ELATT, so apply now!
Studying Hours
These are all the study days and times. Your course will take place on some of these times. You'll find out more information after you apply.
Mornings
Monday9.30 - 16.30
Tuesday9.30 - 16.30
Wednesday9.30 - 16.30
Thursday9.30 - 16.30
Friday9.30 - 16.30
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed
Evenings
MondayClosed
Tuesday18.00 - 21.00
WednesdayClosed
Thursday18.00 - 21.00
FridayClosed
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed
You are more than welcome to give us a call at 0800-0420-184 or email hello@elatt.org.uk to ask questions and find out more. We are available from 9am-5pm on weekdays.
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