Supporting Teaching and Learning

If you are currently working in a school as a teaching assistant in Key Stage One or Two, this part-time Foundation Degree allows you to progress your career towards Qualified Teaching Status (QTS). This would follow successful completion of the Foundation Degree and a top-up year to achieve a full degree.
During the course you will be able to relate assignments and study to the Key Stage(s) that you are working in.

This Foundation Degree is awarded by Nottingham Trent University (NTU.

About the course

-Comprises part-time study (normally 1 evening per week).
-You could pursue Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) status whilst studying on the course.
-You’ll need to work for at least ten hours per week in a suitable post. A statement of support and commitment from your employer/ mentor stating that they will be able to meet the full range of roles and responsibilities in the workplace will be needed.
-We are one of the largest providers of Level 3 Teaching Assistant/Supporting Teaching and Learning qualifications in the East Midlands. This programme builds on the success of this outstanding provision.
-We have worked with local authorities and other stakeholders in planning this course to ensure it is meeting the needs of practitioners who are involved in this changing role.

Modules studies include:

-study skills and current initiatives
-personal development and professional practice
-understanding and supporting literacy and numeracy skills
-diversity and social justice
-assessment for learning
-health and wellbeing in the learning environment
-understanding and supporting science in the curriculum
-safeguarding children –child protection
-meeting individual needs
-understanding and supporting behaviour in a learning environment
-contemporary issues and perspectives in education
-managing research in an educational context

Basford campus

From September 2025, the Education department will be based at the college's new Basford campus. The campus features state of the art teaching and learning facilities, with cafe and library. This relocation enables closer collaboration with our Supported Learning Faculty next door at The Gateway, providing even greater real-life learning experience.

Assessment

Each assessment will be related to your professional role. The programme will use a variety of assessment methods to ensure that you adequately cover each of the learning outcomes.

Your career and progression

You could continue your studies to obtain a BA (Hons) degree and then, if you wish, progress on to a primary teacher training programme to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Each assessment will be related to your professional role. The programme will use a variety of assessment methods to ensure that you adequately cover each of the learning outcomes.