Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary Schools
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Certificate
- Code
- C60
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Made up of
- 60 credit points
Description
The OU Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary Schools is designed for teaching assistants, parent volunteers and adult helpers who work with primary-aged children in a primary or special school, or in related primary-aged provision such as a hospital education unit or a pupil referral unit. The Certificate aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the primary curriculum and their abilities as team members in supporting children’s learning in primary schools.
The certificate 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 – see the National Database of Accredited Qualifications.
Planning your studies
Prior to the beginning of the course, it is very desirable that you gain some experience of supporting children’s learning in a primary school. You also need to have some knowledge of how schools for primary-aged children work. While studying the course, it is a requirement that you are based in a primary school or special school which has primary-aged pupils or a closely-related primary school setting. This could be either as an employed teaching assistant or a volunteer helper working alongside teachers and supporting children’s learning in classrooms. This should be for the equivalent of at least one day, or five hours, per week for the duration of the course. You must have the agreement and support of your school before embarking on the course, as you will need access to children, teachers and policy documents to carry out study activities and write assignments. If you have any doubt about the level of study, or the necessary access to a school, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service. For further information about the course see the Frequently Asked Questions on our faculty website.
To work in a primary school you will need to meet the ‘fit person’ criteria for doing so as required by the local area and/or country in which you are working, including obtaining the necessary criminal record clearance required for the school. It is the responsibility of you and your employer to ensure you meet these requirements, not The Open University. You should contact the relevant agency in your country for more information if you are in doubt about your eligibility, or wish to find out more. For details of who to contact in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales visit our Childhood and Youth Studies website and select the Early Years section.
This Level 1 certificate will provide the necessary core subject knowledge and develop higher education and distance learning study skills to prepare you for progression to other Level 1 and Level 2 courses. Further advice about Level 1 study can be obtained from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Career relevance and employability
This certificate is for those who want to develop their knowledge and understanding of the primary curriculum and their ability to support children’s learning in primary schools. It can either be studied as an award in its own right or as the first step in your studies towards the Foundation Degree in Primary Teaching and Learning (G02) or Diploma of Higher Education in Primary Teaching and Learning (E59). The credit points you gain can also be used towards a degree, for example the BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies (B23) or other degrees that allow free choice of courses for some or all of the credit points. From there it is possible to continue to study and train to progress to qualified teacher status (QTS) through a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (please note that The Open University does not have courses for progressing to QTS in the primary age range). Our booklet Becoming a Teacher has been prepared to help those who are considering teaching as a career. You should also check with your local training provider about their entry policy. For up-to-date information see the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) website.
For planning your next career steps, visit the OU Careers Advisory Service.
Courses
For this certificate you require:
60 points from the following course:
| Level 1 compulsory course | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Oct 2010 |
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.
On completion
On successful completion of the required course you will be awarded a Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary Schools.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
About this page
An undergraduate qualification in Education.
Study explained
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
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