Foundation Degree in Teaching and Learning Support

Curriculum Matters

This module enables you to consider issues related to the curriculum; what we teach, who decides what we teach and how we teach it.

It will consider the learning presented in schools from the point of view of the teacher and importantly that of the child or young person. The concept of ‘personalised learning’ will be explored. Knowledge and understanding of how to promote enquiry lead and experiential learning in a wide range of curriculum subjects will be developed.

Inclusion, Equality and Diversity

In this module, you will explore the terms ‘inclusion’, ‘equality’ and ‘diversity’.

You will examine current equality legislation including the Equality Act 2010 and the duties that apply to schools, as well as the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice 2015 and how it should operate in the work place to support children, young people and their families.

You will consider not only the principles that underpin these terms, but also how they relate to specific dimensions in the lives of children, young people and their families, for example there will be sessions focused on ethnicity, gender, social mobility, poverty and disability.

The role of the teaching assistant in promoting inclusion will also be explored.

Study Skills

This module provides an opportunity for you to explore the personal study skills that will support their learning and achievement throughout the programme.

You will develop skills in critical reading and researching information, effective writing, note taking, sustaining an argument using ICT and time-management strategies.

The module will also explore the principles of the different academic information presentational conventions attached to the assignment formats used throughout the programme, for example, essays, case studies, group presentations and examinations.

Supporting Learning in Mathematics and Literacy

This module provides you with a secure grounding in the theories associated with development in literacy and in mathematics.

Having explored the expected trajectory of development in literacy and mathematics, the module will explore potential misconceptions and barriers to learning and how these can be overcome.

The module will also explore how children and young people may manifest giftedness in these areas and appropriate support strategies.

Understanding Child Development: Theory and Practice

This module deepens your knowledge and understanding of a range of theories relating to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional development of children and young people. It covers key learning theorists and how their ideas have influenced pedagogy and practice. You will explore the connections between cognitive, physical and social and emotional development.

Assessment and Observation

This modules explores theories underpinning the assessment of learning, how to observe pupils engaged in activities in schools and how to make judgements about the next steps in learning based on assessment and observation.

The module will also consider the statutory assessments undertaken in schools, target setting and methods of collecting assessment evidence, how to measure and raise standards and how to ensure children are achieving appropriately, also will be covered.

Behaviour for Learning

This module provides the opportunity to examine a range of theories that explore human behaviour and how children and young people learn to interact with others.

It will challenge you to explore your own notions of what constitutes ‘good/bad’ behaviour and how they have arrived at these notions.

It will openly debate the policies adopted by setting to ‘manage’ children’s and young people’s behaviour, exploring in particular the voice of the child/young person in the development of that policy.

It will also explore how self-esteem and motivation impact on how children and young people interact with others, plus discussing strategies that enable the setting environment to be a place of positive interpersonal interactions.

A study on why children are bullied is taken and the learning environment is explored.

Children, Young People, Education and Society

This module explores the principles that underpin the notions of inclusion, diversity and equality, both in terms of requiring students to engage critically with the theory and in terms of developing personal practice in the workplace.

This module explores current literature, government policy and legislation surrounding the issues of social justice, and the dominant discourses and social norms used to discuss, identify and manage children and families. Through this process the module explores issues of oppression and control between groups in society and how these, often unwitting controls can impact on social mobility.

The module also explores, in practice, how Early Years settings and schools can seek to ensure positive learning outcomes for children, young people and their families.

Developing Learning in Mathematics and Literacy

This module enables you to build on the knowledge and understanding of how children and young people develop literacy and mathematical concepts and skills.

You will critically analyse the statutory curriculum expectations for learning and for assessment in these areas and explore how to work with children and young people to develop interesting and motivating activities to promote learning in the wider literacy and mathematics curriculum.

Independent Project

This module will enable you to develop skills in:

• working as an independent learner
• showing a sound basis for choices
• judgments and decisions
• recognising patterns of continuity and change
• understanding the need to be open to new ideas and practices
• developing an appreciation of the nature of ambiguities inherent in research
• self-knowledge
• and problem solving.

You will develop a clearly expressed research question, supported by a review of the current literature in the chosen field and to critically discuss appropriate research methodologies.

You will conduct field work related to your chosen research question, analyse the results, and draw conclusions that should impact on your practice.

Working in Partnership to Promote Achievement and Wellbeing

This module explore the links between social policy, multi-agency working, and school support. This could manifest, for example, in an investigation into child mental health issues and an examination of in school support strategies and related multi-agency services.

The module revisits current perceptions of childhood from the perspective of the social justice agenda. Practical strategies to support children with difficulties in social and emotional development will be explored.

The module investigates the agencies that work in partnership with schools to promote learning and wellbeing and the principles of partnership working.

It equips you to become aware of the wider role of the school in accessing agencies and implementing strategies to promote learning and wellbeing for children, young people and their families.