Education Support Assistance PDA (for Classroom Assistants) SCQF 6

Course overview

This SCQF Level 6 course is designed for people who want to work as classroom assistants or education support assistants in Scottish schools.

Education support assistants are generally employed in schools to support class teachers in learning activities. They support and supervise tasks set by teachers for individuals and groups of pupils, including learners with a range of additional support needs. This can be in primary schools, secondary schools, additional support needs schools, and sometimes in the early learning and childcare sector.

Placements can be in a Primary or Secondary school. We work closely with applicants to understand their preferences and find the best match.

This course is also designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge required to progress to a higher level, such as the HNC Childhood Practice (Practitioner or Primary Teaching Focus). 

The classes will typically be delivered one day on campus and one day online, with two days on placement.

If you would like to apply for this course, please consider the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme (completed by Edinburgh College once a place on the course is confirmed). This scheme helps to protect children and adults within our sector; therefore, we require a clear PVG to enable you to proceed with an application for this course. If you have any questions regarding this, please get in touch with us to discuss. 

The PDA Education Support Assistance Group Award allows registration with the Scottish Social Services Council at the Support Worker Level.

Upon meeting the entry requirements, we will contact you to share the dates of our Information Sessions and Open Days. We will also arrange an individual induction meeting (online or on campus) to discuss the course and your placement requirements, and to answer any questions you may have.

To help prepare you for your course and share further information, we have created an ESA online notice board. This will be regularly updated until the course starts in August. 

Please note that we strongly encourage you not to book holidays during term time, and arrangements should be made before commencing the course to ensure that you can attend all days/times timetabled.

You can find out more about being a classroom assistant on the My World of Work website.

What you will learn

You will gain the nationally recognised SQA Professional Development Award (PDA) in Education Support Assistant at SCQF Level 6.

You will learn:

• How to work effectively with a class teacher
• How to support children with additional support needs, classroom organisation and administrative tasks
• You will take part in a work placement that will enable you to put these skills and learning into practice

Subjects include:

• Child development
• Supporting behaviour in an educational setting.
• Supporting children and young people who require additional support for learning
• Supporting children with autism
• Developing professional practice in an educational setting
• Children's rights.

The course will also include the following essential Core Skills, which are necessary for this role:

• Communication
• Numeracy (SCQF 5)

Throughout the course, there will be some self-study elements.

• Before starting your placement in October, you’ll spend part of your week working independently on tasks online.

  Ask yourself:

• Is this something I feel confident and comfortable doing?
• Am I self-motivated and ready to take responsibility for my learning?
• Do I have access to a suitable study space, a digital learning device, and the internet? (this could be on-campus)
• Am I willing to join online sessions, with my camera on and engaging in the session?

Placement information

• You will gain valuable experience from a placement based in a primary school or higher.
• Edinburgh College will arrange your placement via our placement coordinator, who has an extensive network of schools (state, additional support needs, and independent) committed to hosting placements to increase career opportunities and jobs by developing skills and knowledge within the Childhood Practice sector.
• Placement is rewarding and gives invaluable experience to support the knowledge gained in college.
• Attendance is mandatory to complete the professional practice required to pass the course. Between October 2025 and May 2026, you need to commit to attending 47 placement days, arranged with a starting block of 3.5 days to get to know your setting, followed by 1.5 days per week, interwoven with three further blocks of 3.5 days in December, January and March.
• Usually, one of the placement days is a Friday, so attendance is for half a day. A satisfactory Disclosure and Protection Scotland PVG clearance arranged and paid for by Edinburgh College is compulsory before starting placement. 
• Our placements are arranged within Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian.  Student requests outside of these areas can't be guaranteed. 

How the course is assessed

• This course is assessed using a variety of methods, including tasks completed on placement.

Number of days per week

• 16 hours of class contact per week.
• The classes will typically be delivered one full day on campus and one full day online using Microsoft Teams; College days are Tuesday (online) and Thursday (on campus).
• Placement is on a Wednesday, a full day, and a Friday morning.
• We recommend a minimum of 6 additional hours of self-study per week.

Entry requirements

• You must consider whether you are suitable for this type of work when applying for the course. Think back to the video at the beginning and what is involved in the role – can you work in a busy/noisy environment?  Are you able to be flexible to changing needs?  Do you have good communication skills to work with both adults and children?  Can you use your initiative? 
• You are required to hold certification in English or Communications and two other subjects at SCQF level 5 or above (or equivalent)
• You are required to hold certification in Maths or Numeracy at SCQF level 4 or above (or equivalent)
• Progression from a suitable Edinburgh College course at National 5 (eg, Childhood Practice Level 5, SCP Early Learning and Childcare Level 5)
• You should hold qualifications or have experience that demonstrates your ability in basic report writing and research.
• Applicants must be aged 16 or over by October 2024 so they can apply for an adult PVG, attend a placement, and meet the work placement requirements.  See note above re PVG requirements.
• Experience working with children is preferred but not required. Please detail any experience in your personal statement.
• For mature applicants who may not have formal academic qualifications, you may still be considered if you can demonstrate significant experience working with children.
• Please detail this experience in your personal statement

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

• As part of the recruitment process, we will have a short individual meeting. 
• During this time, we’ll discuss the course content, your motivation and enthusiasm for working with children, any experience you have, and any support you might need. It’s also the perfect time to ask questions and make sure you feel confident and excited about committing to the course. 
• When applying for the course, it’s important to reflect on whether you are ready to study and work in a Childcare setting.

Ask yourself: 

• Can I thrive in a busy, active, and sometimes noisy environment? 
• Am I flexible and able to adapt to changing needs and circumstances? 
• Do I have strong communication skills to work effectively with both adults and children? 
• Can I use my initiative to solve problems and respond appropriately? 
• Am I able to commit 6 hours per week (adjust per course) in addition to attending all college classes and placement, to complete assessments and classwork? 

• Taking time to consider these questions will help you feel confident that this course is the right fit for you

Writing a personal statement

Your personal statement is an integral part of your application and can help us decide whether you are suitable for the course.

To make sure that you are giving us all the information we need to consider your application thoroughly, please include the following:

• Your reasons for applying for this course. Why does it interest you? Why are you suitable for this course?
• Details of any relevant qualifications that you have to meet the course entry requirements
• Information about any courses or training you have done that are relevant – this can include certificated training such as First Aid or CPD courses.
• Details of any work experience (paid or voluntary) that is relevant to the course
• Your future career plans – how will this course help you to reach your goals?

You should check that the statement is written clearly and uses appropriate language. It is a good idea to ask someone to proofread the statement before sending it.

English Proficiency Requirements To enable our students to have the best opportunity to achieve this course, applicants for whom English is an additional language require an existing English language certificate at IELTS Level 5.5 or equivalent. Alternatively, additional language applicants will be required to undertake an English Language Assessment at the College. There will be a cost of £20 for this test unless you are in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Disability Benefit or Income Support or if you are an asylum seeker or refugee.  English proficiency at IELTS Level 5.5 or equivalent is required for the course. If you would like any more information on this, please get in touch with angie.thomson@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

Progression and Articulation Routes

• HNC Childhood Practice (SCQF Level 7) (Primary School Teacher Focus)or (Practitioner).
• If you have Higher English and National 5 maths, you may consider applying for primary school teacher training at university.
• Suitability for progression will be determined by achievement, including the workplace element, attendance record, conduct and a successful progression discussion.

Career options

• Classroom Assistant role in a primary, secondary, or additional support needs school.
• Eligible for registration with the SSSC as a Support Worker.
• Registered SSSC Support Workers can also be employed in playgroups, private nurseries, out-of-school care, and play schemes.