What Are the Different Teaching Assistant Qualifications?

Becoming a teaching assistant is more popular than ever. The role offers the opportunity to work with pupils in a classroom under the direction of a teacher. Many people who become teaching assistants use the valuable skills and experience they acquire in the role to progress into teaching.

While there are no compulsory qualifications for becoming a teaching assistant, earning some relevant qualifications will place you in an advantageous position in the job market by demonstrating that you have the skills, knowledge and drive to succeed in the role.

CTC Training offers various teacher training courses on its online platform. You can complete your teaching assistant qualification from your own home and at your own pace.

In this article, we’ll explain each of the six teaching assistant qualifications in greater detail. Read on to find out which courses are right for you.

What is the Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools (RQF)?

The Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools is a foundation course for those who wish to gain a better understanding of the support role in schools. Learners will gain training and knowledge about the range of supportive roles without needing a placement in a school or any prior qualifications. The entirety of this course can be completed online at your own pace with CTC Training.

This course is composed of five units:

UNIT NO: 1 — Child and Young Person Development.

UNIT NO: 2 — Safeguard the Welfare of Children and Young people.

UNIT NO: 3 — Understanding the Principles and Practices of Internally Assuring the Quality of Assessment.

UNIT NO: 4 — Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Work with Children and Young people.

UNIT NO: 5 — Schools and Organisations.

This qualification takes approximately 180 hours to complete.

What is the Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (STALIS / STLS)

The Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools is a course for those who wish to get started as a teaching assistant or learning support assistant. This course provides learners with a better understanding of working in a classroom under the supervision of a teacher. This certificate will also help those who are looking to work as an additional needs assistant, pastoral/welfare support assistant, bilingual support assistant or foundation stage assistant.

This course is composed of eleven units:

UNIT NO: 1 — Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Work with Children and Young People.

UNIT NO: 2 — Maintain and Support Professional Relationships with Children and Young people.

UNIT NO: 3 — Communication and Professional Relationship with Children, Young People and Adults.

UNIT NO: 4 — Child and Young Person Development.

UNIT NO: 5 — Safeguard the Welfare of Children and Young People.

UNIT NO: 6 — Support Children and Young People’s Positive Behaviour.

UNIT NO: 7 — Support Children and Young People’s Health and Safety.

UNIT NO: 8 — Supporting Learning Activities.

UNIT NO: 9 — Help Improve Own and Team Practice in Schools.

UNIT NO: 10 — Schools as Organisations.

UNIT NO: 11 — Prepare and Maintain Learning Environments.

This qualification takes approximately 80 hours to complete.

Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (STALIS / STLS)

The Level 3 award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (STALIS/STLS) develops your skills, knowledge and understanding to enable learners to work in diverse supporting roles. You will gain crucial skills that will aid them in the teaching assistant role. This course can be completed entirely online — no school placement is required.

This course is composed of four units:

UNIT NO: 1 — Communication and Professional Relationship with Children and Young People.

UNIT NO: 2 — Schools as Organisations.

UNIT NO: 3 — Understand Child and Young Person Development.

UNIT NO: 4 — Understand How to Safeguard the Wellbeing of Children and Young People.

This qualification takes approximately 80 hours to complete.

Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (STALIS / STLS)

This course teaches learners how to deliver quality education and support in schools. You’ll develop skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable you to work as a teaching assistant, learning support assistant and other assisting roles under the direction of the class teacher.

This course is composed of eleven units:

UNIT NO: 1 — Communication and Professional Relationship with Children and Young People.

UNIT NO: 2 — Schools as Organisations.

UNIT NO: 3 — Understand Child and Young Person Development.

UNIT NO: 4 — Understand How to Safeguard the Wellbeing of Children and Young People.

UNIT NO: 5 — Support Assessment for Learning.

UNIT NO: 6 — Support Learning Activities.

UNIT NO: 7 — Engage in personal Development in Health, Social Care or Children’s and Young People’s Settings.

UNIT NO: 8 — Promote Children and Young People’s Positive Behaviour.

UNIT NO: 9 — Support Children and Young People’s Health and Safety.

UNIT NO: 10 — Develop Professional Relationships with Children, Young People and Adults.

UNIT NO: 11 — Promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Work with Children and Young people.

This qualification takes approximately 320 hours to complete.

Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools (RQF)

This course will develop your knowledge and competence as learning support staff. Under the direction of a teacher, you will contribute to planning, implementing and evaluating learning activities and work alongside the teacher to support whole class activities.

This course is composed of fourteen units:

UNIT NO: 1 — Communication and Professional Relationship with Children and Young People.

UNIT NO: 2 — Schools as Organisations.

UNIT NO: 3 — Understand Child and Young Person Development.

UNIT NO: 4 — Understand How to Safeguard the Wellbeing of Children and Young People.

UNIT NO: 5 — Support Assessment for Learning.

UNIT NO: 6 — Support Learning Activities.

UNIT NO: 7 — Engage in personal Development in Health, Social Care or Children’s and Young People’s Settings.

UNIT NO: 8 — Promote Children and Young People’s Positive Behaviour.

UNIT NO: 9 — Support Children and Young People’s Health and Safety.

UNIT NO: 10 — Develop Professional Relationships with Children, Young People and Adults.

UNIT NO: 11 — Promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Work with Children and Young people.

UNIT NO: 12 — Support Children and Young People to Achieve their Education Potential.

UNIT NO: 13 — Support Children and Young People to Make Positive Changes in Their Lives.

UNIT NO: 14 — Facilitate the Learning and Development of the Children and Young People Through Mentoring.

This qualification takes approximately 440 hours to complete.

Level 4 Certificate in Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)

This qualification is for learners who are already in a teaching assistant role and wish to progress to Higher Level Teaching Assistant Status. The course prepares you for the additional responsibilities in the HLTA role.

This course is composed of seven units:

UNIT NO: 1 — Understand the Higher-Level Teaching Assistant Role.

UNIT NO: 2 — Child Development and Welfare.

UNIT NO: 3 — Awareness of Special Educational Needs.

UNIT NO: 4 — Promoting Positive Behaviour in Children and Young People.

UNIT NO: 5 — Providing Support for Individual Learners and Small Groups.

UNIT NO: 6 — Developing Skills to Promote Positive Working Relationships.

UNIT NO: 7 — Curriculum Planning, Delivery and Assessment.

This qualification takes approximately 360 hours to complete.

All of the courses above are available on CTC Training’s online learning platform. Enrol on a course today and you’ll gain access to the 24/7 student portal, where you can view course content and upload assessments at your leisure. 

Unlock your potential today. Enrol on a course or contact our team for more information.