Learning Support (Foundation)

About the course

If you are already working in a learning support role with children aged 3-18 in a primary or secondary school, this degree will enhance your professional knowledge and understanding of how you can support children across the curriculum.

The programme aims to develop your understanding of the issues and frameworks of SEN in the school context, effective behaviour management practice, specific learning difficulties and their impact on learning and speed and language development.

During your studies you develop valuable employment skills including communication, teamwork, problem solving, decision making, numeracy and information technology. You are also introduced to core professional skills such as working with other professionals and parents, child protection, taking account of individual needs of children and understanding difference and diversity. Important practical skills, for example managing sessions for children, are also part of this programme.

The Foundation Degree has been designed to minimize attendance at lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops so that you can study alongside your employment.

The modules you will study are: Managing Inclusion Frameworks and Issues, ICT for Supporting Learning and Teaching, specific learning disabilities, behaviour management, autism, physical disabilities, speech and language difficulties, case study research, practice-based study.

There is an emphasis throughout on linking theory with practice. Work based assessment contributes substantially to your Foundation Degree.

Why choose this course?

• This programme is intended for learning support staff working with children in primary and secondary schools.
• You will develop core professional and practical skills, such as effective behaviour management, as well as employment-related skills including teamwork, problem-solving and IT.

Study routes

• Part Time, 2 Years

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

If you are already in a learning support role, this Foundation Degree is designed to enhance your career progression and professionalism. Upon successful completion you will have the opportunity to progress onto the BA Honours Education Studies programme.

Teaching methods

The FdA Learning Support has an ongoing 100% coursework assessment structure. Assignments are varied and encourage a wide range of knowledge and skills to be assessed.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Behaviour Management

  This module will examine the main issues surrounding Behaviour Management such as identification and approaches to managing support. The module explores support strategies and approaches in a variety of contexts. It considers the implications that challenging behaviour has for schools and for the professionals who work with such learners and their families.

• ICT for Supporting Learning and Teaching

  This module aims to give students the knowledge and skills to make judgments about when it is, and when it is not, appropriate to use ICT to support learning and teaching across all subjects. This will be achieved through a combination of workshop activities, seminars and lectures. The workshop sessions will require students to work collaboratively as well as independently, sharing ideas and knowledge and reflecting on good classroom practice. They will use a range of technologies to produce resources to support their work in the classroom. Students should feel confident enough to transfer what they have learned to their classroom environment.

• Managing Inclusion Frameworks and Issues

  The module will examine the main issues relating to Inclusion. This will include how the SEN Code of Practice and other related legislation has shaped the organisation of SEN support within schools and with families. In particular, the role of support staff and other professionals within this framework will be explored. Meeting the needs of learners with SEN to enable them to access the Foundation Stage and National Curriculum will be examined; in particular, the role of planning, assessment and recording.

• Supporting Identified Needs

  This module will examine the main issues surrounding a range of specific needs. The module explores support strategies and specialist programmes in a variety of contexts. It considers the implication of the issues for schools and the professionals in relation to the specific needs of learners and their families.

• Working with Children with Specific Learning Difficulties

  This module will examine the main issues surrounding the concept of SpLD, such as early identification and approaches to managing support. The module explores support strategies and specialist programmes in a variety of contexts. It considers the implications that SpLD has for schools and for the professionals who work with SpLD learners and their families.

Optional

Fees & funding

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply