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• EducatorsAbroad (EA) Level 1 International Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
  
   
  United Kingdom National Vocational Qualifications
• NCFE Level 2 Award in Developing Skills for Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
• NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools

For Whom

• Schools committed to improving the effectiveness of personnel participating in the instruction of students.
• Current and prospective Teaching Assistants/Paraprofessionals (age 16+) who seek to increase their effectiveness in assisting primary/secondary school teachers and have the support of a school through which to develop and demonstrate their abilities.

Benefits

For Schools: Teaching Assistants/Paraprofessionals better able to help assure student learning; teachers with improved mentoring skills (possibly earning a National Vocational Qualification in mentoring); increased status in the eyes of parents and accreditation agencies.

For Teaching Assistants/Paraprofessionals: Increased understanding of the teaching/learning process and school policies and procedures; development of skills; an internationally recognised EA Level 1 or UK Level 2 qualification that may serve as a first step to entering the teaching profession.

Content

EA Level 1 International Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (40 guided learning hours plus a minimum of 20 hours work placement). This certificate is particularly designed to serve teaching assistants in international schools who do not intend to seek employment in the UK. The course focus is on observation/reflection of classroom activity and consideration of school procedures rather than academic study to provide a basic familiarisation with aspects of:

• Child development and awareness of particular needs (e.g. ESL) in the school context
• Child safety
• The school's curriculum and comparison with other approaches
• School procedures as they impinge on child development, safety, and the curriculum

NCFE Level 2 Award in Developing Skills for Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (Two units that include 60 guided learning hours plus a minimum of 15 hours work placement)

• Unit 1 Developing professional skills and knowledge
• Unit 2 Support teaching and learning

NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (Five units that include 150 guided learning hours plus a minimum of 40 hours work placement)

• Unit 1 Developing professional skills and knowledge
• Unit 2 Support teaching and learning
• Unit 3 Explore and understand how to keep children safe
• Unit 4 Support children's development

Plus one elective unit selected from the following three (six other units can be made available on request)

• Unit 10 Play (Kindergarten focus)
• Unit 11 Supporting bilingual/multilingual pupils
• Unit 12 Supporting pupils with special needs

Process

Candidates are guided through a series of tasks that result in their creating an on-line portfolio that provides evidence of their understandings and abilities in preparation for internal and external assessment and granting of an award or certificate. Tasks for each unit make use of:

• Research (internet/library/texts)
• Participation in, observation of, and reflection on classroom activity (classroom & school)
• Discussion and feedback (school based mentor and EA tutor/assessor)
• Collation of evidence and reflections, review, and final portfolio assembly (home study)
• Assessment and evaluation (EA tutor/assessor, internal and external verifiers)

Resources and support for completion of each task are provided by EA through distribution of print materials, resources at www.educatorsabroad.org, and EA tutor/assessor interaction with candidate and school based mentor through effective distance education processes including video conferencing.

[Note: retrospective evidence, from up to 6 months, can be submitted by candidates who have been serving as a teaching assistant/paraprofessional in a school. This evidence may include externally acquired certificates (e.g. First Aid) if they are current and verifiable. Similarly, the products of school-based and external courses may be submitted as evidence, provided that it is made clear which learning outcomes have been suitably addressed.]

Roles

Candidates are supported in learning and portfolio development through in-school and on-line instructional support offered by professional educators including:

School-based mentor/observer - Candidates are assigned at least one educator within the school who will offer assistance and advice, observe and report on candidate performance, guide collection of evidence, and review the portfolio prior to submission for assessment. Clearly the class teacher needs to be involved, but we also recommend that the candidate has the opportunity to work with at least one other professional within the school such as a member of the middle or senior management team, or a professional development designate. This professional should be involved in overseeing the candidate's progress and will act as a link to the EA tutor/assessor in order to facilitate assessment.

EducatorsAbroad tutor/assessor - An EA faculty member is assigned to each candidate to offer insights relating to underpinning knowledge, respond to questions, and guide preparation of the portfolio through e-mail/phone/video conferencing interaction with the candidate and school-based mentor/observer (an on-site visit to the school is arranged where possible). This individual also reviews the portfolio and determines if the candidate has demonstrated achievement of all standards associated with each unit.

EducatorsAbroad internal verifier - The internal verifier is responsible for ensuring that the quality, effectiveness and integrity of the course are maintained including assuring that all EA tutor/assessors are marking to the same standard.

External verifier - NCFE Level 2 courses for teaching assistants/paraprofessionals are accredited through exam boards to assure that standards of UK National Vocational Qualifications are maintained. An NCFE external verifier meets with EA faculty, reviews candidate portfolios, and determines whether EA courses maintain appropriate standards.

Cost

Cost for the EducatorsAbroad Level 1 certificate is £300 and presumes a consultative/non-directive role for the EA tutor/assessor and school provision of mentor/observer services.

Costs for the externally moderated NCFE Level 2 qualifications include provision of required text(s) by EA and fees for services of the school based mentor/observer and internal and external verifiers.

• NCFE Level 2 Award: £500 (fulfills two of the five units required for the NCFE Level 2 Certificate)
• NCFE Level 2 Certificate: £950