Supporting learning in primary schools
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| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown.
Summary
This course is appropriate for teaching assistants (paid or voluntary) working alongside teachers in primary schools. It will also be relevant if you’re working in a special school, hospital educational unit, or pupil referral unit where primary-aged children follow the National Curriculum. You’ll cover a range of themes including: the study of children’s learning; inclusive education; play and creativity; English, maths and science and the integration of ICT; and home-school collaboration. You’ll acquire a good knowledge of primary education, learn to work productively with teachers as team colleagues, and develop your ability to support children’s learning effectively.
Course content
This course will develop your understanding of the ways in which teachers teach, the curriculum that guides children’s learning, the activities that children do, and professional decision making in schools. In particular, the course will give you insights into how best to support learning in the curriculum areas of English, maths and science. However, the course will introduce approaches that can be used to enhance learning across the whole curriculum. It will also help you to develop suitable practices when working with children as individuals, in small groups and in larger groups.
Through studying the course you should acquire:
- knowledge of the nature of today’s primary schools and the structure and content of the curriculum
- insights into the ways in which children learn, and what adults can do to promote their learning
- an understanding of the principles that underpin primary education policy and classroom practice
- an awareness of some current theories and research that support primary education
- insights into issues relating to race equality and social inclusion, and the implications for practice
- an appreciation of the complementary nature of home and school learning and the role of parents and the family in children’s education
- academic skills related to writing and study, and the presentation of an argument using appropriate forms of evidence
- an ability to review your own academic and professional learning and be able to take steps to meet identified training and study needs.
Vocational relevance
This course is for teaching assistants and similar learning support staff (including volunteers) working in primary schools throughout the UK. Its content is directly relevant to learning and teaching in primary schools.
Entry
Prior to beginning the course, it is desirable that you gain some experience of supporting primary-aged children with their school learning. You also need to have some knowledge of how schools for primary-aged children work. Whilst studying the course you must be based in, or have weekly access to, a primary school or closely related setting, either as an employed teaching assistant or a volunteer helper working alongside teachers and supporting children’s learning in classrooms. This should be the equivalent of at least one day a week. You must have the agreement and support of your head teacher before embarking on this course as you will need to access school policies, be able to observe children, and have some involvement in planning activities for children with a teacher. It is important to make sure you will be able to do these things - especially if you are a volunteer. If you have any doubt about the level of study, or the necessary access to a school, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service and see the frequently asked questions.
To work in a primary school or related setting you will need to meet the ‘fit person’ criteria for doing so, including obtaining the necessary criminal record clearance required for the setting and country in which you are working. It is the responsibility of you and your employer to ensure you meet these requirements, and not The Open University’s. You should contact the relevant agency in your country for more information if you are in doubt about your eligibility, or to find out more. For who to contact in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales visit the Childhood and Youth Studies website.
Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning to help you progress to courses at Level 2. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Outside the UK
This course will be appropriate if you are working in a British Forces primary school or other primary school in Europe which follows the National Curriculum and uses English as the language of tuition.
Preparatory work
It is important that you have some experience of how UK primary schools function. This may have been acquired from work as a teaching assistant or, for instance, through being a school governor, lunch time supervisor, a volunteer helper, or parent of a child attending a primary school. It is also desirable that you have experience of supporting primary-aged children with their learning, preferably as a teaching assistant but this may have been acquired through being a parent and supporting your own child’s home and school learning.
In order to work in a primary school you must meet the 'fit person' criteria mentioned in the Entry section above. Before enrolling, as stated above, you should also discuss your intention to study the course with your headteacher to seek agreement that you will be able to integrate the requirements of the course into your ongoing work. E111 has been written with the knowledge of what most teaching assistants do in schools, so is designed to minimise any disruption to your normal school and classroom duties.
There is no essential preparatory work before the course starts. However, it is suggested that you become familiar with some or all of the policy documents for your school. You could look at the educational supplements of daily newspapers like The Guardian and The Independent. You could also occasionally browse through the Times Educational Supplement and perhaps look at magazines for teaching assistants primary teachers such as Junior Education Plus or Child Education Plus. Many primary school staff rooms will contain such publications. This will help you to become acquainted with current issues in primary education.
Qualifications
We can award a Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary Schools (C60) to students who successfully complete the course.
E111 is a compulsory course in our
- Foundation Degree in Primary Teaching and Learning (G02)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Primary Teaching and Learning (E59)
E111 is an optional course in our
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
We will take full account of your needs and make sure suitable choices of materials are available. The course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course materials can be provided on request. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Two course readers, written course materials including 19 Study Topics, a Guide to Your Studies, an Assessment Guide, Media Guide and two CD-ROMs, and a course website.
You will need
You will need an internet connection to use the course website, and participate in online forums. Discussions with other students through the online forums are a very important form of additional support so everyone is strongly encouraged to participate.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you can use an Apple Mac or Linux computer if you can run Windows using Boot Camp or similar.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will guide you through the course materials, mark and comment on your written work, and advise and support you where necessary. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor will be particularly concerned to help you with your study methods. Group tutorials that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend will be provided at points throughout the course. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of the students taking the course in your geographic area. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must submit your word processed tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper.
Equal weighting is given to the TMAs and the end-of-course assessment (ECA), so you must pass both parts to pass the course.
Professional recognition
The Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary Schools is approved by the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) as a Level 4 qualification (Revised NQF Level 4) in the National Qualifications framework. Headteachers and teachers of schools where E111 students have been based whilst studying the course speak highly of the knowledge, understandings and new skills that E111 provides.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2010. We expect it to be available once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Childhood and Youth and Education.
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Student Reviews
I found this course invaluable with the information it contained. My problem was having so much to write but not ...
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An interesting course that really helped to improve my confidence as a parent volunteer. I enjoyed being able to apply ...
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