Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre

 

Professional Development Courses 2007 - 2008

 

Beginning February 29th 2008

 

Level 3 Certificate Course

for

Teaching Assistants

Supporting Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)

Registration Form

Registration Form in PDF (better for printing out)

 

 

 

Level 3 Accredited Course in Association with The National Open College Network

 

Level 3 Certificate for Teaching Assistants

 

Course Information

The course will run for 16 weeks and will be held at the Helen Arkell Centre every Friday morning from 9.30 until 12.30, beginning 29th February 2008.

 

The total fee is £499. This discounted price has been made possible by our Bursary fund and includes NOCN fees.

 

Students may wish to purchase books or materials themselves and these are not included in the course fee.

 

 

Special Offer!

All students who pay their full course fees by 29th January 2008 will receive a £25 voucher to spend in our Specialist Bookshop.

 

 

 

Introduction

 

This course has been designed to provide candidates with the essential knowledge that is required when working as a teaching assistant. Unlike other similar courses, it focuses on how a Teaching Assistant can encourage and educate those with Specific Learning Difficulties, such as Dyslexia. The qualification recognises that the candidate has both sound academic and practical knowledge of supporting learners within the classroom.

 

Candidates will be expected to show evidence of working with learners and must complete all six mandatory units in order to be recognised. The course is accredited by the National Open College Network.

 

The course aims to provide candidates with a theoretical and functional understanding of the requirements of a Teaching Assistant and is suitable for anyone who is interested in working with children with SpLDs. Prior knowledge or understanding is not necessary, however candidates must have access, (either paid or voluntary) to learners for a minimum of half a day per week. We also recommend that students have at least a GCSE level understanding of literacy (so that they are equipped to cope with the level of written work), and a basic level of numeracy.

 

If candidates wish to attend the course for information, but do not have access to learners, they can achieve a Helen Arkell Certificate of Attendance for the course, rather than the full NOCN qualification

 

The individual units are intended to cover the range of knowledge that a competent Teaching Assistant should possess. The course in its entirety is comparable to an A Level, or NVQ Level 3.

 

 

Unit Breakdown

 

Unit 1 – Legislation and Policies

This unit will give candidates the ability to understand the main points of national education legislation. They will be aware of how current initiatives are changing the educational environment, and how the organisation in which they work operates its own educational policy.

 

Unit 2 –Understanding Educational Theories and Specific Learning Difficulties

In this unit candidates will be taught about the nature of Dyslexia and other SpLDs, and the importance of different learning styles, and multi-sensory learning.

 

Unit 3 – Supporting Reading, Writing and Spelling

Here candidates are taught strategies for effectively supporting learners with SpLDs in the areas of reading, writing and spelling. They will be shown how to make and use their own resources and will be expected to evaluate the usefulness of such resources.

 

Unit 4 – Supporting Numeracy and ICT

Candidates will learn and be able to demonstrate effective support techniques in the areas of Numeracy and ICT. Again they will be expected to create their own resources and evaluate how their support was effective to the learner.

 

Unit 5 – Behaviour, Self Esteem and Motivation

In this unit candidates will be taught about the importance of self-esteem and motivation and how these can impact on learning. They will be able to identify and demonstrate behaviour observation methods and understand issues surrounding behaviour management.

 

Unit 6 – Record Keeping and Reflective Practice

Here candidates will learn the importance of keeping and maintaining their records. It emphasises the role of feeding back observations to appropriate professionals and teaches candidates the purpose of evaluation and reflective practice to enable them to monitor the quality of their own work.

 

Each unit will be supported by the candidate’s own ongoing experience of working with learners. Assessments will take place throughout the course.

 

What Happens Next?

 

The next step is to fill in your application form and return it along with the necessary documents, (detailed on the back of the form) to the courses coordinator. You will be contacted either to arrange an interview if one is necessary, or to be given details of the start of the course.

 

 

And after I’ve finished?

 

Candidates who complete all of the course requirements will be able confidently to apply to schools in both the private and public sector, and be able to give help to both students with SpLDs and without. A number of candidates each year go on to study with us to Certificate and Diploma level which allows them to teach and assess children with SpLDs. Information on these and our short courses and conferences are available from reception.

 

 

Contact Information

 

Telephone Number for all enquiries: 01252 792 400

Email General Enquiries: enquiries@arkellcentre.org.uk

Email Course Enquiries: courses@arkellcentre.org.uk

 

 

Summary

 

Lessons are every Friday, 9.30 – 12.30pm at HADC

 

Total fee £499

 

Beginning 29th February and finishing 11th July 2008

 

Level 3 Certificate for Teaching Assistants Supporting Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)

 

Registration Form

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