NCFE CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning

Sponsored Programme - Host School

Introduction

The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning is a nationally recognised course designed to support individuals who are interested in a career as a teaching assistant, or to develop current skills to progress further within education.

This A-Level equivalent course provides learners with an understanding of the knowledge needed when working directly with children in a school environment.  It will enable learners to gain an understanding of key elements including child development, safeguarding, communication and building professional relationships.

The Swaledale Alliance is an approved body to deliver this programme certified by NCFE CACHE. 

About the Course

The programme, running across the academic year, is assessed through written assignments and in-school skills assessments.  Learners are expected to gather a detailed portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their understanding in 11 units:

1. Schools and colleges as organisations
2. Support health and safety in the learning environment
3. Understand how to safeguard children and young people
4. Develop professional relationships with CYO and adults
5. Understand how children and young people develop
6. Support positive behaviour in CYP
7. Support CYP during learning activities
8. Support English and Maths
9. Support the use of ICT in the learning environment
10. Support assessment for learning
11. Engage in personal professional development

This qualification has a Total Qualification Time of 350 hours which includes 210 guided learning hours.  The knowledge evidence, feedback sessions and supported work experience contribute to these qualification hours.

Our facilitators will guide learners through each unit at weekly knowledge sessions held at the Swaledale Alliance.  On completion of assignments and assessments, learners will receive detailed feedback and support to ensure they fully meet the qualification’s requirements.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants for this programme must be over 18 and hold GCSE Maths & English at a 4 or above (or equivalent), delegates working towards these qualifications will be considered.

Hosting a CACHE Learner

The support of local schools is essential to this programme as the value of the qualification lies within the real work experience opportunity.  By agreeing to be a host school you are making a commitment to support the learner to build their confidence, skills and knowledge.

All placements and Learners are reviewed on a regular basis, the Alliance team may from time-to-time ring to check how a Learner is getting on.  However, if at any time the school has any concerns about a Learner they need to contact the Alliance team as soon as possible.

Due to the content of the course Learners need to be placed in classes Yr 1 or above.  The Learner can support EYFS/reception for a limited number of hours per week depending on the context and needs of the school, but the majority of their in-school experience will need to be in Yr 1 to Yr 6.

Swaledale Alliance Expectations for the In-School Volunteer Experience

• Number of Hours - We expect schools to offer real work experience of two days per week or equivalent. However, please be mindful that the qualification requires a minimum of 100 work experience hours.

• Previous Experience - At the start of the course Learners will have varying degrees of school experience. It is extremely important that other classroom staff do not assume that they are familiar with the role of a TA or have the skills to support children with additional needs.
• Induction - We strongly recommend that the Learner is given a similar induction to that of any new member of your teaching assistant team plus have the opportunity to work shadow a competent teaching assistant for the first half-term to gain a clear understanding of the role, school behaviour policies and expectations of engagement with the children specific to your setting.
• Mentor - Although it is not a requirement of the course, we recommend that it is good practice to nominate a mentor or a nominated person who Learners can go to for support. This may be the class teacher they are working with, another TA or the member of staff with specific responsibility for mentoring.
• Guidance - For each unit Learners will be given assignments to complete against skills and knowledge criteria. This may involve the learner asking for evidence of school policies etc. or seeking support from members of staff. The research element of this programme can be daunting to those returning to education so a member of staff to turn to is very helpful.
• Day to Day Planning - We would expect the Learner to be involved in the day-to-day class preparation in a similar way to an employed teaching assistant.

In a situation where a Learner needs to leave a work experience early i.e. moves away or accepts an alternative job, school will only be charged up to and including the half term that the Learner has been in school. 

At interview it is made very clear to Learners that at the end of the year there is absolutely no obligation by the school to offer the learner a position.  Should the school advertise a position the Learner will be expected to apply for the post in the same way as other candidates.

Sponsoring a Learner

The Swaledale Alliance offers a bespoke sponsorship scheme, whereby a school offering a work experience opportunity will meet the cost of the course. In return, the Learner will fulfil their in-school experience, on a volunteer basis, by committing to the equivalent of two days a week in school (for the full academic year).  There are a couple of options available within this:

Learner nominated by Alliance

The Swaledale Alliance will endeavour to recruit a volunteer to fill the work experience opportunity.  The school will be encouraged to support the recruiting process which will be managed by the Alliance team.  The current process includes completion of an application form, informal interview and relevant task. Recruitment follows North Yorkshire Council guidance.

The Alliance team will try to appoint the most suitable candidate for the school context and the days the school would prefer the candidate to be available.  We also take into consideration the candidates’ preferences, their travel arrangements and whether they have children at the school. 

The Alliance team will follow up references, but school will be responsible for processing DBS clearance.

Once allocated a Learner the Alliance team will arrange for the Learner to meet with the Headteacher to check that both parties are happy and to discuss the most suitable days for the Learner to be in school.

We would encourage you to direct interested parents or community members to apply via this route.

Nominating own learner (school employee)

For schools nominating their own candidate, there is no need for the candidate to go through the Alliance selection process, unless you would prefer this.  The school will be responsible for taking up references and DBS clearance.  Schools should be very clear with current employees on how the programme is being funded, whether the work-experience element is part of their current employment or extra voluntary hours and ensure the employee is fully aware of the personal time commitment to completion of the assignments.

The Swaledale Alliance will invite all school nominated candidates to a briefing evening in July to ensure everyone is clear on the expectation of the course.

Self-funding Learners

In the event that all sponsored places for the year have been allocated, Learners may wish to self-fund. Alternatively, there may be a situation where a Learner wishes to be placed at a particular school due to location/transport issues and that school is not offering a work experience opportunity or has already filled a place. In these circumstances the Learner will still need to commit to an agreed timetable in school, but school will be asked to consider a degree of flexibility.

In the situation where an existing member of staff approaches school about doing the course but school is not able to meet the full cost, the school may offer to part fund the course with the member of staff meeting the outstanding fee. We would strongly recommend in this instance that both parties are clear on the expectations of the partial funding.

Benefits to your school

Whilst initially the CACHE Learner may not be familiar with the role of a TA, very quickly they become a valued member of the classroom team.  Feedback from our schools indicates this extra pair of hands gives the classroom team a little flexibility to further support children.   Many schools actively encourage the Learner to apply for TA roles within their school both during the year and at the end of the programme.

Cost of the programme

The cost of this programme to Swaledale Alliance partner schools is £1650 and £2000 to non-Alliance members. 

All learners are required to pay the qualification registration fee of £130 and £50 admin fee (admin fee refundable if assignments completed on time).

Places are limited on the programme, please contact Margaret (mthompson@swaledalealliance.org) if your school would like to support a NCFE CACHE Learner by offering a placement in school.