Education Studies for Teaching Assistants (Foundation Degree)

This course is for all those currently employed in a teaching assistant role who wish to improve their qualifications and develop their professional knowledge and understanding.

The role of teaching assistants is expanding and there are excellent opportunities for trained staff. Much of the learning on this vocational course will take place in your workplace.

Why study Education Studies for Teaching Assistants (Foundation Degree)?

This course is for teaching assistants in all areas of teaching: Foundation Stage and early years, primary schools, secondary schools, special schools and post-16 teaching. The course covers all aspects of the work of the teaching assistant: the ways people develop and learn; teaching methods; learners with special needs; social and emotional issues; legal matters; the social context of learning.

This degree provides a route into teaching with a third year 'top-up' to honours degree level (BA (Hons) Education Studies) and a one year PGCE course.

Course structure

In each of the two years you will study six modules or equivalent, some of which are based in your workplace.

Year One

• Curriculum Foundation Stage to End of Secondary
• Inclusion
• Learning, Theory and Practice
• The Reflective Practitioner: The Inclusive Environment

Year Two

• Working in Partnership
• The Curriculum in Action
• The Reflective Practitioner: Supporting Individuals and Groups
• Reflective Practitioner - Research in the Educational Workplace

After successful completion of this course, you may wish to apply to progress to the third year of the BA (Hons) Education Studies at Bath Spa University. In the event of insufficient places being available to accommodate all Foundation Degree students who wish to progress, there will be a selection process based on achievement during the Foundation Degree, supplemented by audition and interview as appropriate, and will be subject to satisfactory academic references. 

Course assessment

Assessment is carried out in a variety of ways:

• Critical reading/literature reviews
• Seminar presentations
• Seminar reports and journals
• Investigative reports
• Practice in the workplace
• Workplace portfolio
• Written essays 
• Practical assessment in the workplace

This course is taught by highly qualified and experienced staff in partner colleges. 

Teaching takes place in rooms equipped with relevant texts, equipment, training materials and electronic resources. Open access computer facilities are available. The University’s Virtual Learning Environment (Minerva) provides remote access to a wide range of resources. 

Teaching methods

Learning and teaching on the Foundation degree for Teaching Assistants takes place through a combination of the following methods:

• Lectures
• Group work – seminars and discussions
• Tutorials
• Visits to educational workplaces
• Specialist presenters and lecturers
• Professional reflection
• Professional discussions with your mentor in the workplace

Course enquiries

All enquiries should be forwarded to admissions@bathspa.ac.uk

Entry requirements

Appropriate accredited Level 3 qualifications (for example A-levels or vocational qualifications)

Working as a teaching assistant (or in a similar role). This will be assessed on an individual basis.

Completion of a Criminal Records Bureau Enhanced Application through Bath Spa University.

Career opportunities

Potential career pathways for you on completion of the Foundation degree are:

• progression to Honours degree;
• teacher training;
• learning support;
• social work training;
• work in child protection;
• community liaison work.

What students say...

'It gives you a deeper more meaningful understanding of everything within a school and within the whole of education'.

'It gets you to look at things in a different way and question everything. I’m challenging myself now; it’s certainly taught me to say 'why?''.