University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework.These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Overview If you’re currently working in learning support – such as in a teaching assistant role – and you’re ready to take the next step in your career, our Foundation degree (FdA) in Learning Support will put you on the right track. As a learning support professional, you play an invaluable role in enabling children to realise what they’re capable of. Your experience is excellent groundwork from which to develop greater educational support expertise, or even to move towards becoming a teacher. We know you’re busy in the classroom, so we’ve made it simple to complete your studies alongside your job by studying at one of our partner colleges. Whichever you choose, you’ll be a student of the University of Portsmouth, so you’ll have access to all of our facilities and support. When you graduate, you'll have new skills and insight to bring to your learning support role. You could also use your foundation degree to access further study that leads to Qualified Teacher Status. This course isn't currently open to international students outside the EU.
- Develop your teaching assistant skills by exploring how best to support learners across key subject areas such as literacy and numeracy
- Discover how to support children with a range of needs, including those with special educational needs and disability (SEND) and social, emotional and mental health difficulties
- Learn in supportive study groups, alongside other teaching assistants from different educational backgrounds, and find out how to take the knowledge and skills you learn in our classroom back to yours
- Be taught by expert staff with extensive experience, using dynamic and relevant teaching methods to help you get the most out of your studies
- Study alongside your job at one of our partner colleges: South Hampshire College Group - Eastleigh Campus (full time only) or Isle of Wight College (full time only)
- primary learning support
- higher level teaching assistance (HLTA)
- learning mentorship
- family support
- behaviour management
Modules
Year 1 Core modules on the course include:
- Educational Contexts (20 credits)
- How Learning Develops (20 credits)
- Supporting Literacy (20 credits)
- The Role of the Professional in Supporting Learning (40 credits)
- Safeguarding (20 credits)
- Practitioner Based Enquiry - Proposal (20 credits)
- Practitioner Based Enquiry - Report (20 credits)
- Supporting Learners with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (20 credits)
- Supporting Numeracy (20 credits)
- Supporting Send (20 credits)
- Theory and Practice of Assessment (20 credits)
Assessment method
You’ll be assessed through:
- essays
- case studies
- reflective reports
- research projects
How to apply
31Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
Eastleigh - This course is available to EU and International applicants who do not require a Student Route Visa Isle of Wight College - This course is available to EU and International applicants who do not require a Student Route Visa
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
GCSE/National 4/National 5
T Level - Not accepted
Applicants are to be working in either a voluntary or paid relevant educational setting for a minimum equivalence of one day a week. All applicants will be invited to to attend an interview.
Additional entry requirements
Interview
All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview in support of their application.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5. |
| PTE Academic | 54 | An overall score of 54 with a minimum of 51 in each skill. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 79 | 79 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162. | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162. | |
| Trinity ISE | Pass | Trinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components |
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| EU | £6165 | Year 1 |
| England | £6165 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £6165 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £6165 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £6165 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £6165 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £6165 | Year 1 |
| International | £17200 | Year 1 |
Additional fee information
Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship
Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice.
Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation.
For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/ug-tuition-fees
Provider information
University of Portsmouth
University House
Winston Churchill Avenue
Portsmouth
PO1 2UP