Teaching Assistants – Level 2

Level: 2 | Duration: 1 Year | Start Date: September
Details: Wednesday, 9.30am – 12pm or Thursday, 9.30am – 12pm or 6pm – 8.30pm (TBC 2025)

Are you interested in working as a classroom assistant in a school? It’s a rewarding role where you can support students and teachers, making a real difference in the educational experience. 

Would you like to work as a:

• Teaching Assistant
• Classroom Assistant
• Learning Support Assistant
• Special Needs Assistant

If yes, then this qualification is for you.

What will I learn on this course?

In a Level 2 Teaching Assistant course, you’ll learn about child development, safeguarding, effective communication, promoting equality, improving team practice, ensuring health and safety, supporting positive behaviour, and assisting with learning activities. This course equips you with essential skills to make a positive impact in the classroom.

Units 
Some of the units you will study are:

• Child and young person development
• Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people
• Communication and professional relationships with children, young people and adults
• Equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people
• Help improve own and team practice in schools
• Maintain and support relationships with children and young people
• Support children and young people’s health and safety
• Support children and young people’s positive behaviour
• Support learning activities

Why choose Riverside College for this course?

• Excellent internal progression opportunities, at Riverside College you can progress onto a Level 3 Teaching Assistant Course and then onto a Foundation Degree in Education 
• Highly qualified and experienced teaching team 
• Transferable skills which can be used in a variety of contexts, including current job roles or future career aspirations
• Inclusive support is available for all learners
• Can contribute to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) requirements
• High satisfaction rates from students
• Outstanding Ofsted 2024

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed via written assignments, class tasks, and work-based assessed criteria. In addition, you will produce and submit a placement portfolio.

What are the Entry Requirements?

GCSE grade D/3 or Level 1 English and maths. As an alternative, you can take an English and or maths assessment in college after you have applied. You must achieve a Level 1 or above in this assessment.

Although we can accept maths and English assessments to meet the entry requirements of both the Level 2 and the Level 3 Teaching Assistant’s course, if you don’t have a qualification in English and maths, we would recommend you study these alongside your Teaching Assistant’s course.

Studying English and maths will not only help you on your course but also in the classroom and help with your employability after your course. In addition, it can also help you progress to a Degree in Education (should you wish to teach in the future), which requires a maths and English qualification at either grade C/4 or Level 2.
We offer maths and English courses here at the college within our Adult Skills department with daytime and evening options.

You will also need a placement in a school, this placement must be sourced by you,* and in place at the beginning of the course in September (you must have written/email confirmation)

Your placement needs to be 1 day per week (this can be split into two half days) and in any of the following settings:

• Primary School (Year 1 and above) 
• High School
• College

*Tips for finding your placement: 

• Ask at your local schools (these could be the schools your children or family members are attending) 
• Google the email addresses/telephone numbers of any schools you would be happy to travel to
• Contact the schools in term time and don’t forget to tell them about all of your experiences and skills to help secure your placement  

Are there any costs associated with this course?

This course is free for individuals who live in the Liverpool City Region (Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) LCR or £570* for students outside this area.

*Many of our courses can be studied for free, even if you are employed or self-employed, depending on your individual circumstances and the course you have chosen to study.  Click here for more information.

This course can be paid in instalments.

You will be required by the school to purchase a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check in order for you to attend a placement.

What will this course lead on to?
You will be able to move directly into employment as a Teaching Assistant or progress on to the Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools or Access to Education pathway.