Childhood Practice & SVQ Provision
Get into education support - an introduction to working with children in an education setting
Campus OL - Open Learning/Cross Campus
Qualification No Qualification
Study mode Open learning
Start date
Feb 2026
Course enquiry form
Course overview
This is an excellent course for people interested in supporting children and young people in a school setting, but unsure where to start.
The course will have six sessions, covering a range of topics relevant to working with children and young people as a pupil/education support assistant or ASN auxiliary.
This will give you an introduction to the topics and an idea of whether you want to continue with them.
The sessions will be interactive and informative, with discussions and group work.
You’ll be expected to take part and share your ideas.
What you will learn
Some of the topics you'll cover include:
- Child development
- Understanding and supporting children’s behaviour
- Supporting children and young people with additional needs
- Health, safety and risk assessing
- Professional practice and values
- Inclusion and equality
- Language, literacy and numeracy
- Relevant policies and legislation
Placement information
- This course doesn't have a placement; however, it's a good idea to gain some work experience or volunteer in a setting with children or young people to help you identify whether this is the right career path for you. It would also allow you to link the course topics to practice in a real-world setting.
- Some suggestions for volunteer opportunities might include: local Scout or Guide groups, additional support needs play schemes, local schools or nurseries, playgroups, and youth clubs.
- You will likely be asked to complete a PVG check before volunteering. More information here: The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme - Citizens Advice
How the course is assessed
- The course doesn't have formal assessments, but you will be asked to submit a short piece of writing for us to give feedback on. This will help us to identify which level of the course would be best for you to progress to.
Number of days per week
- The course will run in the evening, one evening per week.
- It is an online course using MS Teams. You will receive information and guidance on how to access the course.
Entry requirements
- There are no formal entry requirements for this course.
- You should be interested in working with children and young people and be willing to participate in group discussions.
English Proficiency Requirements
No requirements for this course.If you plan to progress to further study at the college, there are IELTS requirements for each course - see individual courses for details.Progression and Articulation Routes
- Full-time or part-time childhood practice courses – the level will depend on your current qualifications.
- We offer a range of flexible part-time options, and in August, we start full-time courses each year.
Career options
The course is tailored to working in a school setting as a pupil or education support assistant. However, it is also relevant to working in a range of different settings with children and young people, including:
- nurseries
- after-school clubs
- schools
- playschemes
- playgroups
Study Options
| Campus | Study mode | Start date |
|---|---|---|
| OL - Open Learning/Cross Campus | Open learning | 23/02/26 |
