Free Teaching Assistant Level 2 Course in Harrow

CostFREE
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 2
DeliveryClassroom based
Start7 Sep 2026
Study modePart-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyNCFE awarding body

About this course

Free Teaching Assistant Level 2 Course in Harrow. Classes run at Stanmore College, with daytime sessions that fit around other commitments. You'll need to be working or volunteering in a classroom with Year 1 or above pupils for at least six hours a week while you study. The course covers supporting children's development, assisting with learning activities, and maintaining a safe classroom environment. A letter from your employer confirming your teaching assistant role is required before you start. The course takes one year part-time.

Who this course is for

The Early Years Supporting Teaching and Learning NCFE Certificate Level 2 is for you if you want to work in an early years educational setting or in primary schools. On this course, you will gain the foundational knowledge to support the teaching and learning practices where you work.

Throughout the course, you’ll learn key skills such as supporting children’s development, assisting in planning and delivering learning activities, and maintaining a safe and positive learning environment. You will also gain an understanding of how to support children with additional needs and work with families to support a child’s development. The qualification covers a variety of units, including child development, communication, and teamwork. This will equip you with the knowledge to support both teachers and students effectively.

The course is ideal for those looking to progress into a career as a teaching assistant, or who wish to develop their skills in supporting young learners in schools. When you complete this certification, you could work as a Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, Secondary Assistant or as a Special Schools Assistant.

Entry requirements

Level 1 English (or equivalent qualification). Work or volunteer in a classroom with Year 1 (or above) students for at least 6 hours a week (for the duration of the course.) Letter from employer confirming your role as a Teaching Assistant is required.

What you will learn

  • You'll learn how to support children's development in an early years or primary school setting.
  • You'll develop skills in assisting with the planning and delivery of learning activities.
  • You'll understand how to maintain a safe, positive, and inclusive learning environment.
  • You'll learn how to communicate effectively with children, colleagues, and parents.
  • You'll explore safeguarding principles and your responsibilities in an educational setting.
  • You'll gain knowledge of how children learn and how to support different learning needs.

How you will learn

You'll learn through classroom-based sessions at Stanmore College, combining taught lessons with the practical experience you gain in your workplace placement. Assessment is through a portfolio of evidence drawn from your work in school, alongside written assignments. Your classroom hours and workplace hours both contribute to your final qualification.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. Stanmore College will confirm anything else you need before you start. You will need to arrange a workplace or voluntary placement in a classroom with Year 1 or above pupils for at least six hours a week, and bring a letter from your employer confirming your role as a teaching assistant.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Teaching assistant: support teachers in primary school classrooms.
  • Higher-level teaching assistant (HLTA): take on more responsibility in the classroom.
  • Nursery practitioner: work in early years settings with younger children.
  • Learning support assistant: help pupils with additional educational needs.
  • Classroom assistant: provide day-to-day support across primary school subjects.
  • Early years educator: work toward a role counted in nursery staffing ratios.

What you could study next

  • Level 3 Award in Education and Training: moves you toward a teaching or training role.
  • Level 3 Certificate for Teaching Assistants: deepens your classroom practice and can support HLTA status.
  • Level 3 Early Years Educator: the qualification recognised in statutory nursery staffing ratios, if you want to work with younger children.
  • Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning: a natural next step if you want to take on more responsibility in a school setting.

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