Level 2 Teaching Assistant Course. Work-based training at your workplace. You study while working in a paid or voluntary school role, building your teaching assistant qualification through real tasks in the classroom. The course covers child development, safeguarding, behaviour support, communication, and equality and inclusion. Your assessor visits you in school to plan and assess your work, and you attend regular portfolio guidance sessions throughout. The course takes 12 months.
Who this course is for
This programme is for people who support teachers in schools and who work largely under supervision. It will enable you to obtain a nationally recognised qualification while you work. It will enable you to obtain a nationally recognised qualification while you work. Your assessor will plan, and assess your practical work in the workplace. You will also be required to attend regular portfolio guidance sessions with your assessor.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements. However, since this qualification is assessed in the workplace, you need a paid or voluntary position within a school setting that offers you suitable experience and the chance to demonstrate the necessary skills.
What you will learn
You'll understand how children and young people develop at different stages.
You'll learn how to safeguard the welfare of children and young people.
You'll develop professional communication skills with children, young people, and adults.
You'll apply equality, diversity, and inclusion principles in a school setting.
You'll support children and young people's health, safety, and positive behaviour.
You'll assist with planned learning activities under teacher supervision.
You'll reflect on and improve your own practice within a school team.
How you will learn
Your assessor plans and assesses your practical work directly in your school workplace. You complete projects, case studies, and assignments, and gather evidence from your day-to-day role. You attend regular portfolio guidance sessions with your assessor to build and organise your evidence. Funded learners also receive one-to-one assessor support via Microsoft Teams. You need to achieve nine mandatory units and two optional units to complete the qualification.
What you will need to bring
Heart of Yorkshire Education Group will confirm anything you need before you start. You will need access to a paid or voluntary position in a school setting throughout the course, as all assessment takes place in the workplace.
Where next
Jobs you could do
Teaching Assistant: support teachers and pupils in primary or secondary schools.
Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support Assistant: work with pupils with additional needs.
Learning Support Assistant: help individual or small groups with their learning.
Classroom Assistant: assist with daily classroom activities and resources.
Early Years Teaching Assistant: support learning in reception or nursery classes.
Cover Supervisor: supervise classes under teacher direction.
What you could study next
Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools: the natural next step if you take on wider responsibilities in the classroom. It opens doors to more senior teaching assistant roles.
Level 3 Teaching Assistant Diploma: a broader qualification for those looking to deepen their practice.
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) routes: if you want to move toward becoming a teacher, a Level 3 qualification is a useful foundation before exploring degree or apprenticeship routes into teaching.
