About this qualification

This qualification provides learners with an in-depth understanding of the knowledge and skills needed when working directly with children and young people in school and college environments. It covers all aspects of specialist support including planning, delivering and reviewing assessment strategies to support learning alongside the teacher; bilingual support; special needs support; and personal development and reflective practice.

This qualification is available to study in Welsh. Please see the Welsh translated Qualification Specification, which is available to download. There will also be the option to select the certificate language when claiming certificates via the NCFE Portal.

What is a nested qualification?

This qualification is nested. Qualifications within a nested suite allow learners to be topped up to a qualification that is the same level and subject within the Award, Certificate, Diploma structure. This can be done by self-service through the Portal. Qualification nests and top-up pricing can be found in our fees list.

When is it available?

1st February 2018

Who is it suitable for?

This qualification is aimed at learners working in roles that offer specialist support for pupils’ learning in primary, secondary or special schools, as well as colleges.

What are the entry requirements?

Learners must be at least 16 years old.

How is this qualification structured?

To achieve the Diploma the learner must complete 16 mandatory units.

How is it assessed?

This qualification is assessed internally.

How long will it take to complete this qualification?

The Diploma can usually be completed in 1 year to 18 months.

Do you need to be working to take this qualification?

As learners need to show competence in both skills and knowledge, they will need to be working or be on a practical placement during the taught programme of study in a learning environment (school or college). At diploma level, we recommend that the learner undertakes an additional 100 hours of placement to that taken at the certificate level in a real work environment, to total 200 hours.

What related qualifications can you progress to?

Learners achieving the Level 3 Diploma can progress onto the Level 4 Certificate for the Advanced Practitioner in Schools and Colleges, a foundation degree, or specialist roles within the workforce.

Career opportunities

This qualification provides you with the knowledge, understanding and skills to work in a variety of unsupervised job roles that support children and young people’s learning in schools or colleges. Roles this qualification will prepare you for include:

• Teaching Assistant
• Learning Support Assistant
• Special Needs Assistant.

Funding for our qualifications

Find out more about funding for this and other qualifications on our funding page.

Supporting materials

Our new Supporting Teaching and Learning qualifications do not have separate Learner Handbooks. The qualification specification contains everything that a learner will need to record their evidence and compile their portfolio.