Foundation Degree in Supporting Teaching and Learning

General information

Please note that for our part-time higher education courses you must apply directly to the University of Greenwich - unfortunately the College cannot accept online applications for HE courses.

Following re-validation of the Foundation Degree in Learning Support - from September 2011 this Foundation Degree will now be known as;

Foundation Degree Supporting Teaching & Learning

This foundation degree is for those working, or who volunteer, in the 'paraprofessional' areas in support of learning and teaching. This may be either in classrooms as learning support assistants, teaching assistants or related roles such as a learning mentor linked to schools and/or colleges and other learning environments.

To access Unistats information regarding this course, click here. This information will be hosted at the bottom of this course page in the coming months.

Course content

Level 1:

• Active Education (background to the processes of education, learning and teaching in both formal and informal settings, including contexts, systems, practices and contemporary issues) and development of academic study skills
• Learner and Education The psychology of learning and development to enable students to gain insights into how to adapt their role in education settings to meet the needs of individual students to create personalised learning programmes
• Supporting the curriculum(concentrates on key areas in which learning support takes place in schools, but also touches on these in post school settings) identifying current policy, initiatives and trends.
• Professional Practice Portfolio : This is a work based learning course where students will be encouraged to evaluate their own professional skills, abilities and competencies and compare these with those required for their occupation, profession or workplace

Level 2:

• Understanding Psychological, Social and Emotional Aspects of Behaviour: (introduces notions of psychological, social, emotional and cultural aspects of behaviour and the need to understand this in the context of learning and teaching)
• Social Pedagogy : Meeting the holistic needs of children and young people. Students will acquire knowledge f the theories, concepts and context of multi-agency/integrated working
• Supporting Learners with AEN (explores a range of SEN/AEN needs and how these can best be supported in education settings and investigates the concept of inclusion historically and in contempory settings.)
• Negotiated Professional Investigation (a negotiated and supervised individual work based project)

Teaching and assessment

For each part of the course students may be required to produce the following evidence: - individual or group presentations - reports - essays based on given titles - portfolio of activities undertaken in a classroom setting together with evaluations - case studies - observations - reflective journal - research project. Students will need to be able to write at Level 3 (A level) standard. Most essays and reports have a word count of around 2,000 words.

This is a mainly theoretical programme with some practical elements. Students will be introduced to the current theoretical framework in education and explore the bases for theories, strategies and school initiatives. The tutors place a great deal of emphasis on discussion and groupwork, with students sharing their experiences. Students will be introduced to the skills of critical analysis and academic writing. Please note that this programme requires students to undertake wide reading/independent study of at least 4 hours per week.

Entry requirements

1 A Level or equivalent vocational Level 3 qualification such as NVQ3 or BTEC National Diploma and GCSE A* - C English and maths or equivalents. You must be aged 18 or over at the start of the course and working or volunteering in an educational setting. You will need CRB clearance.

Progression

Successful students who graduate with an FD may progress to the final stage of a BA Hons degree at the University of Greenwich in a relevant area such as Education Studies. Childhood Studies, Youth and Community Studies after attending a bridging programme. In some circumstances this may be combined with employment-based teacher training leading to qualified teacher status, or subject to meeting normal entry requirements other professional training. Those who wish to train, as teachers must have GCSE passes in English Mathematics and Science at grades A*-C.

BA (Hons) Degree: On completion of full BA (Hons) students may wish apply to university to study on a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Primary, Secondary or Post-Compulsory teaching. Students who obtain the BA(Hons) may also wish to work within children's services or youthwork.

Dates and times

Students attend college one day per week ( Wednesdays) from 9.30-5.00. Length of course = September - end of June for 2 years. Students must be able to commit to attendance for the whole day. Students are sometimes required to travel to the University of Greenwich Avery Hill Campus to attend keynote lectures and use library facilities.