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What makes Teaching and Learning Support at the University of Worcester special?

Learning Support Assistants are a crucial part of education for many young people. This Teaching and Learning Support course is designed for those currently working or volunteering in primary or secondary schools who wish to explore practical routes into teaching. Studying this foundation degree can open the door to additional qualifications, with a range of top-up options, including qualified teacher status.

The course is timetabled over a single day to allow you to fit your learning around work and family commitments.

Overview

Overview

Why study Teaching and Learning Support?

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Entry requirements

Entry requirements

32
UCAS tariff points

Entry Requirements

32 UCAS tariff points

The normal minimum entry requirement for Foundation Degree courses is the possession of 4 GCSEs (Grade C/4 or above) and 1 A Level (or equivalent Level 3 qualification).

A Disclosure and Barring Service Check is required for this course.

Candidates with non-standard entry applications will be considered on the basis of relevant work experience and attainment of skills. They will be invited to an Informal Interview with the Course Leader.

Applicants are interviewed and invited to share their experience of working with learners. A minimum of two years' experience employed or working in a voluntary capacity within an appropriate educational setting is desirable.

Course content

Course content

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course. If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative. 

Year 1
  • Preparing for Study
  • Introduction to Behaviour Management
  • Introduction to SEND: understanding Inclusion, Diversity and Global Citizenship
  • Introduction to Pedagogy, Curriculum and Assessment
  • Work Based Learning
  • Introduction to Research

Year 2
  • Reflecting on Self
  • Safeguarding Children and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • Pedagogy, Curriculum and Assessment
  • Work Based Learning
  • Work Based Research Project
Teaching and assessment

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will have an opportunity to engage with learning through a comprehensive range of learning and teaching strategies which include:

  • Lectures
  • Workshops
  • Seminars
  • Group work
  • Practical activities
  • Problem-based learning

Practical activities and assignments will enable you to learn and to share your knowledge and expertise with others. You will also undertake a work-based study in your second year, which supports you to focus on a particular area of your interest.

The course contains a mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services and the personal academic tutoring system. This combination allows you to reflect on your progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that you can use to enhance your future career. 

Contact time

In a typical week you will have 6 hours of teaching. The precise contact hours may vary by semester (1afternoon and 1 evening). Typically contact time will be structured around:

  • 3 hours of lectures
  • 3 hours of seminars/workshops/practical activities in groups of 15-20 students

Duration

2 years full time (all three campuses) or 3 years part-time (BMet and Halesowen College only)

Assessment

Assessment methods include:

  • Written assignments
  • Individual and group presentations
  • Case studies
  • Reflective portfolio entries
  • Problem based learning
  • Learning journals / reflective journals
  • Seminars
  • Independent Research Projects
  • Workplace investigations
  • Self-evaluation / needs analysis
  • Evaluations of processes and resources
  • Poster/leaflet presentations / Production of workplace resources
  • Literature critiques

Assessments

Year one

  • 1 reflective portfolio
  • 2 evaluation and annotation of an educational resource
  • 3 essays
  • 1 critical evaluation
  • 1 reflective commentary
  • 1 group presentation
  • 1 workplace study plan
  • 1 ethics report
  • 1 poster presentation 

Year two

  • 1 reflective portfolio
  • 4 essays
  • 1 learning journal
  • 1 group presentation
  • 2 reflective commentaries
  • 1 professional enquiry/research project 
simon-taylor

Simon Taylor

Simon joined the School of Education in January 2016 having worked in the arts and cultural sector for many years. He specialises in collaborative research, building partnerships, commissioning, strategic planning, interdisciplinary working and professional development supporting artists, teachers and senior managers.

Simon is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA).

Careers

Careers

The foundation degree in Teaching and Learning Support leads into a range of potential career paths including teaching, academic support and work with students with additional needs.

Potential careers after studying the Teaching and Learning Support FdTLS include:

  • Learning support
  • Learning coach and mentor
  • Family support
  • Welfare officer
  • Personal tutor

The course provides a foundation to study a Bachelors degree level including the:

Costs

Fees and funding

Full-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £9,535 per year.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2025/26 academic year is £16,700 per year.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.

Part-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 the tuition fees for part-time UK and EU students on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £1,190.83 per 15-credit module, £1,587.77 per 20-credit module, £2,381.66 per 30-credit module, £3,175.55 per 40-credit module, £3,572.50 per 45-credit module and £4,763.32 per 60 credit module.

For more details on course pages, please visit our course fees page.

Course-related costs not included in the fees

Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses.

As this course requires it, you will need to pay for a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

You are required to be volunteering or employed in a learning support, or similar, role for the duration of the course. The expectation is that you make arrangements to attend your employment or voluntary work and meet any travel costs. 
How to apply

How to apply

Applying through UCAS

UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry onto full-time undergraduate courses in Higher Education in the UK.

Read our How to apply pages for more information on applying and to find out what happens to your application.

UCAS Code

X700

Full-time applications

Please make your application via UCAS using the relevant button below. If you have any questions, please contact the Course Leader, Simon Taylor, via email simon.taylor@worc.ac.uk

Apply for full-time - University of Worcester Apply for full-time - Halesowen College Apply for full-time - Birmingham Metropolitan College

Get in touch

Simon Taylor

Course Leader, University of Worcester
simon.taylor@worc.ac.uk
01905 542830

Carole Barber

Course Leader, Halesowen College
cbarber@halesowen.ac.uk

Sharon Preston

Course Leader, BMet, James Watt College
Sharon.Preston@bmet.ac.uk

Admissions

Admissions Department
admissions@worc.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1905 855111

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